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Central  University  Library 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 
Please  Note:  This  item  is  subject  to  recall. 

Date  Due 

AUG  17  1995 

MAY  2  5  1995 

0139(7/93) 

UCSD  Lib. 

WITH    THE    RED    CROSS. 


Three  Vassar  Girls 


IN 


RUSSIA  AND  TURKEY. 


BY 


ELIZABETH    W.  £HAMPNEY, 

AUTHOR    OF  "a   NEGLECTED   CORNER   OF    EUROPE,"'    "THREE   VASSAR    GIRLS    ABROAD,"   "THREE   VASSAR 

GIRLS   IN    ENGLAND,"   ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  "CHAMP  " 

And  other  Distinguished  Artists. 


BOSTON: 
ESTES    AND     LAURIAT, 

PUBLISHERS. 


Copyright,  1889, 
By 

ESTES   AND   LaURIAT. 


C.  J.  Peters  &  Son, 

Typographers  and  Electrotypers, 

-Boston,  Mass. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

L     Lord  Saunters ii 

II.       SaLLIE 2  1 

III.  Lady  Saunters 29 

IV.  An  Unexpected  Meeting 38 

V.     A  Newspaper  Correspondent  and  a  Trip  to  Ragusa 42 

VI.     The  Adventures  Begin 58 

VII.     Montenegro 71 

VIII.     Lord  Saunters  is  taken  Prisoner 93 

IX.     Melicent  and  Captain  Muller 104 

X.     Greece 113 

XI.     First  Impressions  of  Turkey 131 

XII.     St.  Petersburg 151 

XIII.  Balkan  Roses 168 

XIV.  Moscow,  Nijni-Novgorod,  and  the  Crimea 186 

XV.     Shipka  Pass 211 

XVI.     Plevna,  and  the  Passage  of  the  Balkans 230 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

With  the  Red  Cross Frontispiece 

Lord  Saunters  and  Gus 12 

Gibraltar 13 

Lord  Beaconsfield 15 

Spanish  Donna 17 

Russian  Arms 20 

Sallie 21 

Gus 21 

Greece 24 

The  Propylea 25 

Lady  Saunters 29 

Algernon  Saunters 31 

The  Hippodrome 35 

An  Unexpected  Meeting 38 

Captain  Miiller 39 

Piazza  del  Duomo  —  Court  of  Diocletian's 

Palace •.     .  45 

Ragusa 49 

Mr.  Xorcross 51 

Peasant  Girls 53 

Correspondents  on  their  way  to  Peco  Pav- 

lovitch's  Camp 59 

The  War  Correspondent 61 

Council  of  W^ar  at  Peco  Pavlovitch's  Camp,  63 

A  Barbarous  Operation 66 

Lisurgents  in  Ambush 67 

Departed  Glories 69 

Cousin  Trajan 72 

Montenegrin  Senator 73 

Montenegrin  Scenes 77 

Montenegrin  Soldier 81 

Prince  Nicholas 84 

Princess  Milene 85 

Mr.  Ignatieff 86 

Montenegrins 87 

A  Turkish  Commander 94 

Hashi-Bazouks 95 

Portico  of  a  Cottage  in  Montenegro    ...  99 

Mr.  Norcross  looked  up loi 


Church  of  Perchtoldsdorf 

A  Russian  Police  Agent 

Castle  of  Eisgrub 

Melicent 

The  Danube  at  Linz 

Ionic  and  Corinthian  Columns 

Sports  of  Ancient  Greece 

Penelope 

In  Doubt 

Modern  Athens  from  the  Acropolis   .     .     . 

Caryatides 

The  Parthenon 

The  Temple  of  the  Wingless  Victory    .     . 

At  the  Museum 

Sketches  at  Constantinople 

Lord  Saunters  depressed 

Gus's  Idea  of  Mr.  Humphrey 

Mr.  Humphrey  appears 

English  insulted  in  Constantinople     .     .     . 

Student  of  Robert  College 

Monument  in  the  British  Graveyard,  Scu- 
tari    

A  Family  Corner  —  Turkish  Cemetery, 
Scutari 

Abd-ul-Aziz - 

Mourad  V 

Tomb  of  Sultan  Mahmoud's  Favorite 
Horse 

Bashi-Bazouks 

Drosky-driver 

St.  Isaac's  Church 

Bird's-eye  View  of  St.  Petersburg .     .     .     . 

Statue  of  Peter  the  Great 

Nicholas  Bridge 

The  Countess  Melinoff 

Mrs.  Davenport 

The  Winter  Palace 

The  Grand  Duke  Nicholas 

Dimitri  Dimitrievitch 


PAGE 


ILLUSTRA  TIOXS. 


PAGE 

A  Military  Review 163 

A  Suspicious  Interview 166 

A  Marriage  Procession  in  liulgaria    .     .     .  171 

The  Rose  Harvest 173 

Interior  of  Bulgarian  Peasant  Dwelling      .  175 

Princess  Nathalie 177 

Prince  Milan  IV.  of  Servia 17S 

Servians 179 

Two  Ways  of  Wearing  Veils 1S3 

Bucharest 1S4 

Alexander  II.,  Czar  of  Russia 1S7 

A  Well-Known  Figure 190 

The  Granovitaya  Palace 193 

Melicent  is  surprised 194 


Czar  Kolokol 

Church  of  Vasili  Blagennoy 

Calmuck  Tartar  Maid 

The  Old  Diplomat 

The  Epaulets  returned 

Russian  Military  Types 

Cossacks  on  the  Road  from  Galatz    .     . 
Russian  Officers  taking  the  Turkish  Flag 

The  Red  Cross  at  Work 

Reception  of  the  Czar  by  the  Clergy 

Passage  of  Balkans 

Forgotten 

Turkish  Crone 

Relieving  the  Guard  at  Shipka .... 


i'AGE 

195 
197 
205 
209 

211 

214 
219 


-34 


THREE  VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA  AND  TURKEY. 


THREE  VASSAR  GIRLS 


RUSSIA  AND   TURKEY. 


CHAPTER   I. 

LORD    SAUNTERS. 

TT  was  at  Gibraltar,  in  the  autumn  of  1875,  that  SalHe  and  Gus  first 
-*-    met  Lord  Saunters  and  his  family. 

The  steamer  stopped  here  to  coal  after  its  long  trip  across  the 
Atlantic  ;  and  the  passengers  had  an  opportunity  to  land  and  to  inspect 
the  fortifications  constructed  by  the  English,  the  famous  galleries  in 
the  Rock,  with  their  great  guns  commanding  the  strait  and  the  Spanish 
shore. 

The  varied  nationalities  to  be  found  in  the  streets  and  markets 
were  extremely  interesting.  Here  a  Moor  from  Africa,  in  a  white 
burnous,  stalked  majestically  by,  hardly  brushing  with  his  robe  the 
cringing  Jew  who  flattened  himself  against  the  wall  to  let  him  pass. 
In  this  corner  sat  a  jetty  Nubian  displaying  for  sale  a  basket  of  pome- 
granates ;  and  there  two  Spanish  ladies,  with  lace  mantillas  thrown  over 
their  shapely  heads,  waved  their  fans  gently  at  a  jaunty  English  officer 
in  a  gay  scarlet  and  gold  uniform  ;  and  marching  down  another  steep 
street  to  the  sound  of  a  wheezy  bagpipe  was  a  company  of  Scotch 
Highlanders  ;  while  the  flags  of  a  dozen  nations  waved  from  .the  ship- 
ping in  the  harbor,  all  dominated  by  the  power  of  England. 

"  England  was  pretty  'cute  to  secure  this  toll-gate  to  the  Mediterra- 
nean —  now,  wasn't  she  ? "  Gus  remarked,  as  they  steamed  away. 


\2 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


•■  l'.nL:laiul  is  iisuall\-  pretty  cute  in  her  dealings  with  the  foreign 
powers."  said  a  iioinpousdooking  gentleman  in  a  long  gray  duster, 
who  happened  to  he  standing  just  behind  Gus. 

He  was  a  new  passenger,  who  had  just  come  on  board  with  his 
family  and  quite  a  suite  of  attendants.  Gus  looked  up  quickly,  a  little 
taken  aback,  for  he  saw  instantly  that  the  speaker  w^as  an  Englishman, 
though  he  wore  a  beard  instead  of  the  characteristic  mutton-chop 
whiskers.     The   light  veil   twisted  around  his  hat  and  the  "  Murray's 


LORD    SAUNTERS    AND    GUS. 


Guide  Book"  protruding  from  one  of  the  side  pockets  of  the  Russia 
leather  travelling-bag  proclaimed  his  nationality,  while  the  crest 
engraved  on  the  gold  handle  of  his  umbrella  and  the  obsequious 
deference  shown  him  implied  that  he  was  a  "  milord." 

Gus  straightened  himself,  and  strove  to  be  equal  to  the  occasion. 

•  I   have  always  admired  the  policy  of  England   as   exhibited  by  her 

colonial  possessions,"  he  replied,  with  a  dignity  which  quite  matched 

that  of  the  Briton.     "  I  think  that  you  English  have  treated  the  North 

American  Indian  much  more  fairly  than  we  have." 


LORD   SAUNTERS.  jc 

The  strange  gentleman  smiled.  "You  are  doubtless  an  American," 
he  said,  "  though  I  hardly  expected  to  find  an  admission  from  one  of 
your  nation  that  England  excelled  America  in  anything.      I  fear,  too, 


LORD    BEACONSFIELD. 


that  whatever  humanity  we  may  have  exercised  to  the  natives  of  our 
colonies  is  more  a  matter  of  policy  on  our  part  than  of  principle." 

"  Is  not  humanity  always  the  best  policy,  sir?" 

"Well,  no:  a  long  experience  in  the  diplomatic  service  has  hardly 
taught  me  that.  I  have  made  the  Eastern  Question  the  study  of  my 
life,  and  the  policy  of  England  seems  to  be  inextricably  intertwined  with 


1 5  THREE    I'ASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

the  permanence  of  the  Turkish  power ;  and  the  Turks,  you  know,  are 
not  noted  for  their  humanity." 

"  Now,  that  is  just  what  I  want  to  know  more  about ! "  Gus 
exclaimed  eagerly.  "The  Eastern  Question  —  what  is  it?  We  see 
so  much  about  it  in  the  papers  nowadays.  Is  there  going  to  be  a  war 
in  Turkey?  Excuse  me,  sir,  but  I  am  very  deeply  interested.  You 
see.  my  sister  and  I  are  going  to  Turkey,  and  of  course  I  would  like 
to  know  whether  it  will  be  quite  safe  for  her  to  stay  ;  and  if  you  are  in 
the  diplomatic  service  you  must  know  what  England  is  going  to  do." 

The  gentleman  smiled  at  the  boy's  eagerness  and  volubility.  "  I 
am  not  at  liberty  to  divulge  any  state  secrets,"  he  said,  "  but  of  this  at 
least  I  can  assure  you,  there  will  be  no  war  in  Turkey  this  year.  My 
friend,  Lord  Beaconsfield,  heads  the  pro-Turkish  party  in  the  English 
cabinet,  and  will  control  the  policy  of  England,  All  sympathy  with 
this  petty  insurrection  in  Herzegovina  is  mere  stuff  and  nonsense.  It 
is  possibly  true  that  the  Turks  are  a  little  hard  on  the  European 
provinces,  but  any  talk  of  atrocities  is  mere  Russian  humbug.  The 
situation  is  just  this :  Russia  and  England  are  each  extending  their 
possessions  into  Asia,  and  are  formidable  rivals.  Turkey  stands  in 
Russia's  way ;  and  it  is  England's  policy  to  help  Turkey.  Russia  would 
like  to  incite  the  Turkish  possessions  in  Europe  to  rebellion,  and  assist 
in  breaking  up  the  Turkish  Empire  ;  but,  my  boy,  England  will  not 
permit  it."  The  gentleman  brought  his  jaws  together  with  a  snap. 
He  had  evidently  perfect  faith  in  England's  power  to  rule  the  universe. 
The  boy's  face  fell.  "  Then,  it  will  be  perfectly  safe  for  us  to  travel  in 
European  Turkey?"  he  asked,  with  a  not  very  happy  expression  of 
countenance. —  "no  chance  of  the  Servians  rising,  or  any  Turkish 
massacres,  or  that  sort  of  thing  ?  " 

"  Not  the  least.  Mukhtar  Pacha  will  soon  put  an  end  to  the 
present  trouble  in  Herzegovina,  and  peace  will  be  restored." 

Gus  sighed.  "  Sallie  will  be  glad,"  he  said  slowly  :  "  she's  dead 
set  against  war." 


SPANlsfi    DOxXNA. 


LORD   SAUNTERS.  jq 

"  Who  is  Sallie  ?  " 

"  She  is  my  sister,  sir." 

"  A  missionary  ?  " 

"  Oh,  dear,  no!  We  are  travelhng  for  pleasure,  sir,  and  information, 
—  not  that  Salhe  needs  it  in  the  least.  She  was  at  Paris  with  friends 
at  the  time  of  the  siege.  I  have  always  been  provoked  to  think  that  I 
was  not  old  enough  to  be  with  her.  She  is  on  her  way  now  to  join 
these  same  friends,  —  Mrs.  Davenport  and  her  daughter  Melicent,  who 
have  been  livingr  abroad  all  this  time,  and  are  at  Vienna.  I  don't  think 
I  shall  care  anything  about  them,  for  they  are  very  stylish  people,  and 
society  people  are  always  sure  to  be  stupid,  you  know  ;  but  there  is 
another  friend  of  Sallife's  down  in  European  Turkey,  who  is  a  missionar)-, 
and  we  want  to  get  to  her,  if  we  can,  and  persuade  her  to  come  back. 
It  was  awfully  foolish  of  her  to  go  out  there,  Sallie  thinks,  and  danger- 
ous too  ;  and  that's  why  I've  been  boring  you  with  all  these  questions." 

"  You  have  not  annoyed  me  at  all,  my  boy,"  replied  the  English- 
man. "  You  seem  to  be  a  very  plucky  pair  of  young  people.  I  would 
like  to  meet  your  sister,  and  you  will,  perhaps,  do  me  the  honor  ot 
presenting  me  to  her." 

Gus  hesitated.  He  had  run  on  with  perfect  freedom  ;  but  intro- 
ducing this  stranger  to  his  sister  was  another  matter.  "I  —  I  —  Sallie 
is  rather  shy  about  meeting  strangers  ;  that  is,  she  is  very  busy  morn- 
ings, and  she  always  takes  a  nap  in  the  afternoon,"  he  stammered. 

"  I  see,"  the  elder  gentleman  replied  good-naturedly.  "  You  are 
quite  right :  it  is  not  good  form  to  be  too  intimate  with  unknown  people. 
Possibly  my  wife  may  be  more  successful  with  your  sister  than  I.  I 
like  you  all  the  better  for  your  care  of  her.  There  is  the  dinner-bell. 
Join  me  on  deck  whenever  you  care  to  do  so.  My  son  Algernon  is 
quite  an  Orientalist,  and  he  will  enjoy  talking  with  you  about  Turkey." 

Lord  Saunters  seemed  to  have  a  mania  of  dislike  for  the  Russian 
coat-of-arms.  They  saw  the  Hag  flying  on  a  Russian  vessel  as  they 
steamed   away  from   Gibraltar,  and   he   remarked   that  the  two-headed 


20 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  E\  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


monstrosity  seemed  more  like  a  great,  greedy  vulture  to  him  than  an 
eagle.  He  told  with  evident  relish  the  stor)-  of  the  Russian  prince 
who,  in  hunting,  brought  down  a  bird,  and  inquired  of  his  attendants 
what  manner  of  wild-fowl  this  was. 

"  Voiir  Highness  has  killed  an  eagle,"  replied  the  squire. 

"  Oh,  no  !  "  exclaimed  the  prince,  whose  knowledge  of  ornithology 
was  larcrelv  derived  from  the  roval  arms,  "  you  cannot  deceive  me.  Do 
I  not  see  that  it  has  only  one  head  !  " 

Having  finished  his  story  with  a  cordial  nod,  the  old  man  ambled 
briskly  awa)'. 


RUSSIAN    ARMS. 


SALLIE. 


21 


CHAPTER   II. 


SALLIE. 


T" 


SALLIE. 


*HE  tour  which  SalHe  and  her  brother  were 
now  taking  had  only  been  decided  upon  after 
long  deliberation.  Gus  had  finished  his  prepara- 
tion for  college  and  had  successfully  passed  the 
Harvard  examinations ;  but  his  father  thought 
him  too  young  to  enter,  and  it  was  decided  that 
European  travel  would  advantageously  fill  in  the 
interim. 

Neither  Mr.  nor  Mrs.  Benton  could  conven- 
iently leave  home  ;  but  as  Sallie  had  travelled  in  Europe  before  this, 
and  was  a  girl  of  clear  judgment  as  well  as  something  of  a  stickler 
for  the  proprieties,  they  had  perfect  confidence  in  their  daughter's 
ability  to  conduct  such  a  tour,  and  everything 
had  been  left  to  her  management.  Gus  had,  at 
first,  manifested  little  enthusiasm. 

"  You    had    such   a   nice    time  in  Paris,"    he 

« 

said,  "  that  you  will  want  to  go  there  again,  and 
I  hate  French  and  despise  shopping." 

"  Gus  dear,  you  are  quite  wrong,"  his  sister  had 
replied.  "  I  haven't  a  bit  of  shopping  to  do,  ana 
just  because  I  have  been  to  Paris  I  do  not  care  to 
go  again.     '  Fresh  fields  and  pastures  new,'  say  I.' 

"And  I  know  what  that  means,"  Gus  replied  moodily:  "you  mean 
to  go  to  Germany,  and  if  there  is  anything  I  dislike  more  than  French 
it's  German.     There  never  was  a  better  thing  written  than  what  Marl: 


GUS. 


22  THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

rwain  said  about  ( icrman  grammar,  with  its  compound  nouns  and 
its  genders  and  cases  and  all  that  nonsense.  Sounds  like  a  parcel  of 
horses  talking  ;  hut  those  German  officers  were  so  polite  w^hen  you  got 
caught  within  their  lines  during  the  siege  of  Paris  that  I've  no  doubt 
you're  pining  to  hie  away  to  the  banks  of  the  Rhine  and  see  your  Von 
Lindenthals  and  )our  Lieutenant  Schwarzes  and  your  precious  Captain 
JNIiillers  once  more." 

Sallie  flushed  indignantly.  "  Germany  is  just  the  one  country  I 
insist  on  not  visiting,"  she  replied  dryly,  "  and  Captain  JNIiiller  the  very 
last  man  whom  I  desire  to  meet." 

Gus  looked  at  her  in  surprise.  "  You  don't  say  !  "  he  remarked, 
and  then  there  was  silence  between  them  for  the  space  of  just  one 
minute,  during  which  brief  time  Sallie  mentally  reviewed  her  last 
European  tour,  and  especially  her  stay  in  Versailles  with  Madame  de 
Beaumont  while  the  great  German  army  was  waiting  for  the  surrender 
of  Paris.  She  thouofht  of  the  kindness  of  the  German  officers  who 
were  quartered  at  Madame  de  Beaumont's,  of  the  respect  and  consid- 
eration shown  to  them  both  during  those  terrible  days  of  siege,  —  of 
Captain  Mliller's  honest  face,  and  of  something  he  had  said  to  her,  and 
then  she  flushed  indignantly  as  she  thought,  "  No,  no,  he  never  really 
loved  me,  or  he  would  have  been  willing  to  leave  the  army  for  my  sake 
when  I  told  him  that  I  thought  it  was  wicked,  and  could  never  marry  a 
soldier." 

"Oh!  were  you  speaking?  w^hat  did  you  say,  Gus  ? "  she  asked, 
as  she  awoke  from  her  reverie. 

"  I  asked  )ou  to  deign  to  indicate  a  country  which  you  would  like 
to  visit." 

"  It  really  doesn't  matter,  dear.  We  are  sure  to  have  a  good  time, 
you  and  I  together,  anywhere.     Where  would  you  like  to  go  ?  " 

"It  I  had  my  own  wa)'  I  would  take  a  cruise  with  Captain  Kidd  to 
the  Cannibal  Islands.  Since  that  is  not  possible,  if  there  is  to  be  war 
anywhere  in  Europe  let  us  choose  that  country." 


SALLIE. 


23 


Sallie  was  silent  fcr  a  moment,  and  then  replied,— 

"  The  papers  say  that  the  situation  is  a  little  cloudy  in  Turkey." 

She  mentioned  the  country  not  quite  at  random.  Alice  was  in 
Turke)',  and  she  felt  sure  that  this  was  a  country  where  she  would  be 
quite  sure  not  to  meet  Captain  Miiller,  little  dreaming  that  her  fate  (or 
was  it  not  Providence  ?)  was  leading  directly  toward  the  meeting  which 
she  wished  to  avoid. 

"  Well,  let's  choose  Turkey,  then."  Gus  replied,  "  I  want  to  go 
somewhere  where  there  is  a  chance  for  adventure,  and  I  don't  want  to 
do  the  every-day,  regulation  thing  when  I  go  to  Europe.  What  the 
papers  say  sounds  promising  ;  maybe  we  can  get  kidnapped  by  some 
of  the  bandits,  or  we  may  tumble  into  a  battle  somewhere." 

"  War  is  a  frightful  thing,"  said  Sallie  musingly.  "  I  saw  more 
than  I  wanted  of  it  at  Versailles.  I  hope  that  there  never  will  be 
another  war  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  but  there  is  one  reason  why  I 
would  like  to  go  to  European  Turkey." 

"  I  know.  You  would  like  to  do  Greece  on  the  way.  It  would  be 
nice  for  your  art  to  stop  at  Athens  and  sketch  the  Acropolis.  Well, 
I'll  stand  it,  if  you  will  promise  on  your  sacred  honor  not  to  make  the 
visit  an  instructive  one." 

"  I  would  like  to  stop  in  Greece  very  much,"  Sallie  admitted,  "  but 
my  dearest  friend,  Alice  Newton,  has  gone  out  to  Turkey  somewhere  as 
a  missionary." 

Gus  whistled.  "  It  must  be  an  uncommonly  stupid  sort  of  a  life," 
he  said. 

"Yes,"  Sallie  replied,  "  I  am  afraid  it  is.  Dear  Alice  was  a  saint; 
one  of  the  loveliest  grirls  I  ever  knew.  If  she  had  been  a  Romanist, 
she  would  have  taken  the  veil.  As  she  was  a  Presbyterian,  she  did  the 
nearest  thing  to  it  which  she  could,  and  renounced  the  world  with  all 
its  pomps  and  vanities.  I  was  very  angry  with  her  for  becoming  a 
missionary  ;  but  her  mother  died,  and  her  father  married  again,  and  she 
hadn't  any  younger  sisters  to  fit  for  Vassar.  or  a  brother  to  plague  her 


24 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUS ;IA    AND    TURKEY. 


and  to  plaoue  in  turn,  and,  I  have  no  doubt,  she  felt  as  if  there  was  no 
room  for  licr  in  the  world." 

"Done!"  exclaimed   Gus.      "We   will  go  to  Turkey,  and,   if  you 
want  to,  on  the  way  we  will  take  in  Greece.      I'll  loaf  around  Alars  Hill 


GREECE. 


while  you  are  making  your  sketches,  and  see  if  I  can  scare  up  a  few 
adventures  with  the  bandits,  and  then  we  will  go  to  Turkey  and  hunt 
up  your  missionary  friend  and  rescue  her,  I've  no  doubt  that  she  is 
sick  of  the  country  by  this  time,  and  we  will  bring  her  back  in  triumph, 
and  you  and  she  shall  set  up  a  studio  together  in  Boston.  You  said 
she  used  to   paint  when   you  were   in   France   together,  didn't  you  ?     I 


SALLIE. 


27 


shall  run   in  to  see  you   every  Saturday,  and  get  you  to  translate  my 
Greek  for  me,  and  we  will  have  no  end  of  fun." 

"That  is  a  fine  prospect,"  laughed  Sallie,  "only  I  am  afraid  we 
shall  not  be  able  to  persuade  Alice  into  it.  If  she  has  given  up  art,  it 
is  because  she  considers  it  her  duty  to  be  a  missionary,  and  Alice 
always  placed  duty  before  everything  else.  However,  w^e  will  try  our 
best,  for  I  like  your  plan,  Gus,  very  much  indeed.  It  would  be  delight- 
ful only  to  see  her  again,  and  talk  of  the  days  when  w^e  were  Three 
Vassar  Girls   in    France." 

"Where  is  your  third  crony,  Miss  Davenport?" 

"  Melicent  and  her  mother  are  in  Vienna.  I  would  like  very  much 
to  visit  them  on  our  way  to  Bulgaria. 

"  Perhaps  Mrs.  Davenport  and  Melicent  would  go  with  us  ;  that 
would  simplify  everything." 

"  Humph  !  I  don't  know^  about  that.  We  don't  want  too  many 
women  ;  besides,  I  thought  that  Miss  Davenport  was  married  to  the 
Avar  correspondent,  Mr.  Osborne." 

"  War  correspondents  do  not  make  money  enough  to  marry  upon 
so  quickly;  and,  though  Melicent  is  Avealthy,  James  Osborne  is  too 
much  of  a  man  to  allow  her  to  support  him.  When  I  last  heard  from 
her.  he  had  gone  with  the  Russians,  on  the  Khivan  campaign,  into  the 
heart  of  Asia." 

"  He  must  be  a  plucky  sort  of  fellow.  If  there  should  be  a 
war  in  Turkey,  don't  you  think  that  he  would  probably  be  sent 
there  ? " 

"  He  would,  doubtless,  be  there  ;  but  I  fancy  we  would  not,  for 
father  and  mother  would  insist  on  our  leaving  the  country  in  case 
hostilities  were  declared." 

"  Pshaw!  I  hadn't  thought  of  that;  but  perhaps  we  will  be  lucky 
enough  to  get  caught,  as  you  were  in  the  German  lines." 

The  plans  thus  discussed  crystallized  in  due  time.  Friends  had 
been  found  who  were  going  to  Vienna,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  supposed 


2S  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

athantaq-e  of  their  company  Sallie  had  determined  to  make  the  visit 
to  Mchcent  first. 

A  sea  voyage  is  a  great  revealer  of  latent  selfishness ;  and  the 
Greysons,  their  fellow-travellers,  prov^ed  to  be  a  greater  trial  than 
comfort. 

It  was  on  the  autumn  day  that  we  have  described,  that  Gus  enjoyed 
his  first  glimpse  of  Europe,  at  Gibraltar.  He  had  told  Sallie  of  his 
interview  with  Lord  Saunters,  but  had  wisely  omitted  to  report  his  lord- 
ship's request  for  an  introduction,  fearing  that  his  sister  would  think 
him  indiscreet.  He  secretly  felt  that  he  had  been  too  familiar,  and 
resolved  to  avoid  this  fault  in  future. 


LADY  SAUATERS. 


29 


CHAPTER    III. 


LADY  SAUNTERS. 


LADY  SAUNTERS. 


OALLIE  encountered  the  English  lady  on 
the  following  day.  Lad}-  Saunters  had 
evidently  had  a  line  of  conduct  suggested 
to  her  by  her  husband,  for  she  was  seen 
by  Gus  to  make  vigorous  signs  of  inter- 
roeation  across  the  table  to  her  lieo;e  on 
the  American  girl's  appearance  at  break- 
fast. Sallie  went  immediately  on  deck  after 
the  meal,  and  my  lady  soon  after  followed. 
She  looked  at  the  young  people  irreso- 
lutely, and  sank  into  her  steamer-chair. 
"She  makes  me  think  of  Sennacherib,"  Gus  remarked,  "with  his 
costume  all  glittering  with  purple  and  gold." 

"  Byron  says  '  cohorts,'  not  '  costume,'  "  corrected  Sallie. 
"  Never  mind  Sennacherib.     There  she  is,  and  if  she  isn't  bearing 
down  on  us  this  minute,  like  the  wolf  on  the  fold  ! " 

The  lady  had,  in  fact,  risen,  and,  accelerated  by  the  pitching  of  the 
ship,  was  sidling  rapidly  toward  them.  She  caught  at  the  rail,  righted 
herself,  and  affably  extended  a  small,  enamelled  bonbonniere,  which 
Sallie  at  first  mistook   for  a   snuff-box. 

"Peptic  lozenges,  my  dear,"  she  explained,  —  "a  specific  against 
sea-sickness." 

Sallie  good-humoredly  partook  of  a  lozenge.  There  was  something 
in  the  lady's  voice  which  was  strangely  familiar,  and  she  looked  at  her 
inquiringly. 


;o 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY 


"  My  husband  tells  mc  that  you  are  an  American,  my  clear;  and  as 
we  travelled  in  America  two  )-ears  ago,  and  met  with  such  uniform 
courtesy  everywhere,  especially  from  a  family  by  the  name  of  Benton, 
whom  we  met  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  who  rescued  us  from  great 
annoyance " — 

Sallie  gave  a  gasp  of  surprise.  "  Lady  Saunters  !  "  she  exclaimed, 
"  do  you  not  recognize  me  ?  " 

Her  ladyship  raised  her  lorgnette.  "  It  is,  no,  surely  it  cannot  be, 
litde  Sallie  Benton  ?  " 

"  Have  I  grown  old  so  rapidly,  dear  Lady  Saunters?  But.  indeed, 
I  can  hardly  tell  you  how^  pleasant  it  seems  to  meet  a  friend." 

"  It  is  very  agreeable  for  us  as  w^ell,  my  dear.  We  have  just  coms 
from  England,  and  are  on  our  way  to  Athens,  where  we  expect  to 
remain  until  the  arrival  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  on  his  way  to  India. 
The  Prince  has  invited  my  second  son,  Algernon,  to  go  out  with  him. 
Alfred,  our  eldest,  is  in  England.  We  have  plenty  of  time,  and  intend 
first  to  make  a  little  stop  at  Venice  and  at  Trieste." 

"My  brother  and  I  are  also  on  our  way  to  Trieste."  Sallie  remarked, 
"so  our  journey  lies  for  a  little  way  in  the  same  direction.  We  may 
possibly  visit  Greece  later.  Perhaps  you  can  kindly  give  me  some 
inform.ation   in  regard  to  Athens." 

The  American  college  for  the  study  of  the  Greek  language  and 
archaeology,  of  whose  advantages  Vassar  girls  have  now  a  right  to 
avail  themselves,  was  not  then  established  at  Athens,  and  Sallie  felt 
quite  doubtful  as  to  this  part  of  her  trip. 

"  If  you  were  only  ready  to  go  on  to  Greece  now.  my  dear."  Lady 
Saunters  replied,  "  I  might  be  able  to  be  of  some  service  to  you  ;  and 
it  seems  to  me  a  serious  undertaking  for  a  young  woman  to  travel 
about  alone.  However,  now  that  we  have  fallen  in  together,  and  our 
routes  lie  in  the  same  direction,  I  shall  be  pleased  to  afford  you  any 
protection  in  my  power." 

Sallie  colored  :   she  was  inclined  to   feel  indicrnant,  but  she  recog- 


LADY  SAUNTERS. 


31 


nized  the  fact  that  her  ladyship's  remarks  were  meant  kindly,  and  had 
a  show  of  reason.  She  explained  that  they  were  nominally  under  the 
care  of  the  Greysons,  but  that,  so  far,  they  had  proved  a  great  care  to 
her,  and  she  would  be  very  happy  when  she  could  exchange  Mrs. 
Greyson's  chaperonage   for  that  of  Mrs.   Davenport. 

"  Exchange  it  now  for  mine,  my  dear!  "  exclaimed  Lady  Saunters. 
"  I  will  explain  to  Mrs.  Greyson  that  I  am  the  friend  of  your  mamma, 
and  I  am  sure  that  she  will  be  satisfied  with  our  credentials." 

As  Sallie  knew  that  her  parents  had  been  pleasantly  impressed 
by  Lord  and  Lady  Saunters, 
the  arrangement  was  quickly 
made.  Lady  Saunters  was 
peculiar,  but  she  was  good, 
and  Sallie  was  grateful  for 
the  opportunity  of  availing 
herself  of  the  companionship 
of  a  lady  older  and  more  ex- 
perienced than  herself.  Lord 
Saunters  was  duly  presented, 
and  Algernon,  who  was  an  ex- 
tremely well-bred  young  man, 
with  a  listless,  world-weary  air, 
to  which  Sallie  at  once  took 
mental  exception.  "  I  do  not 
like  you,"  she  said  to  herself: 
"  you  are  a  prig,  and  we 
shall  not  get  on  at  all." 

While  she  was  registering  this  prophecy,  Algernon  Saunters  was 
thinking,  "What  a  bore  that  mother  should  have  taken  it  into  her  head 
to  pick  up  this  young  person,  with  her  disagreeably  American  manner! 
I  shall  have  as  little  to  do  with  her  as  possible." 

He  accordingly  retired  to  the  cabin,  where  he  devoted  himself  to 


ALGERNON    SAUNTERS. 


,2  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS   IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

writino;  up  his  journal.  —  an  occupation  in  which  he  always  intrenched 
himself  when  menaced  with  uncongenial  company.  The  others  grew 
to  understand  this,  and  Gus  would  say.  "He  is  seeking  the  seclusion 
which  his  journal  grants." 

Gus  had  not  taken  the  Yellowstone  trip,  and  he  was  much  surprised 
when  Lord  Saunters  claimed  Sallie  as  an  old  acquaintance.  "  Never 
mind,  my  boy."  said  his  lordship:  "you  were  right,  quite  right,  in 
euardino-  your  sister." 

They  were  transferred  at  Palermo  to  another  steamer,  bound  up  the 
Adriatic  to  Venice.  Sallie  was  pleased  to  find  that  Lord  and  Lady 
Saunters  planned  to  spend  two  days  here  ;  and  visions  of  floating 
about  the  city  in  a  gondola,  of  visiting  St.  Mark's  and  the  Ducal  Palace, 
danced  through  her  brain.  But  this  was  not  Lady  Saunters's  errand  in 
\^enice.  She  had  stopped  simply  to  buy  some  Venetian  point-lace. 
Algernon  Saunters  also  expressed  his  antipathy  for  Venice.  "  Such  a 
beastly,  damp  place,  you  know.  I  can  never  get  over  the  feeling  that 
the  city  is  suffering  from  an  inundation." 

When  Gus  inquired  if  he  meant  to  visit  the  picture  galleries,  he 
replied  that  no  one  ever  went  that  dreary  round  but  once,  to  be  able  to 
say  that  he  had  seen  this  and  that,  and  that  he  w^as  thankful  that  a 
conscientious  governess  had  dragged  him  through  the  pilgrimage  at 
the  mature  age  of  six,  and  that  one  of  the  penances  of  life  was 
performed. 

In  spite  of  thereby  confessing  that  she  was  visiting  Venice  for  the 
first  time,  Sallie  bravely  visited  the  principal  places  of  interest,  remain- 
ing so  long  entranced  before  Titian's  masterpieces  that  she  was  late  to 
dinner  ;  but,  altogether,  the  glimpse  at  Venice  was  a  very  unsatisfactory 
one. 

"  I  wish  we  could  stay  a  month  here,"  said  Gus. 

"Yes."  replied  Sallie  regretfully,  "and  I  presume  that  at  the  end  of 
the  month  we  would  want  still  more  to  remain  a  year.  And  what 
would  become  of  our  Turkish  expedition  ? " 


LADV  SAUNTERS.  -^ 

As  they  embarked  for  Trieste,  Algernon;  Saunters  admitted  that  he 
would  have  preferred  making  a  trip  across  the  Adriatic  to  the  little 
republic  of  Montenegro.  "  Why,  that  is  supposed  to  be  a  hot-bed  of 
revolt  and  conspiracy  against  the  Turks,"  said  Gus. 

"  True,"  replied  the  young  man  ;  "  and  for  that  very  reason  I  have 
a  great  curiosity  to  see  these  plucky  Montenegrins,  who,  in  their 
little,  star-shaped  republic,  a  mere  pinhead  on  the  map  of  Europe,  have 
defied  the  Turkish  power  so  long  and  so  successfully." 

Sallie  looked  up  with  surprise  ;  it  was  the  first  time  that  Algernon 
had  expressed  interest  in  any  subject. 

"  They  have  set  a  most  mischievous  example  to  Herzegovina  and 
Servia,"  Lord  Saunters  remarked,  "  and  are  really  the  spark  in  the 
great  gunpowder  mine  which  would  shake  all  Europe  but  for  the 
repressing  hand  of  Great  Britain." 

"That  is  it,"  remarked  Algernon.  "  I  have  a  haunting  feeling  that 
if  I  should  look  into  this  matter  I  would  inevitably  find  myself  inter- 
ested in  the  under  dog  in  the  fight ;  and  might  even  come  out  on  the 
wrong  side  of  British  interests,  which  would  never  do,  you  know.  My 
only  safety  as  a  member  of  a  conservative  family  lies  in  ignorance." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  said  Sallie  hesitatingly,  "  that  a  high  position 
and  wide  influence  such  as  yours  involve  you  in  grave  responsibility. 
I  do  not  see  how  you  dare  to  neglect  investigating  such  a  matter." 

Algernon  flushed  slightly.  "  It  is  fortunate  for  my  peace  of  mind 
that  I  do  not  possess  your  morbidly  active  American  conscience,"  he 
remarked  coldly. 

Sallie  bit  her  lip.  She  felt  that  she  had  said  too  much  ;  but  Gus 
could  not  take  the  hint,  and  continued  impulsively,  "  I  think,  Lord 
Saunters,  that  there  is  something  magnificent  in  those  Montenegrins 
maintaining  their  independence  in  that  way,  and  I  don't  see  why 
England  objects  to  the  Servians  and  Bulgarians  forming  independent 
states,  if  they  want  to  so  much." 

"  Ah  !   that  is  the  Eastern  Question  again,"  replied  Lord  Saunters. 


o  ,1  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

"  You  Americans  are  mad  on  the  subject  of  independence,  but  there 
are  other  considerations  involved  here,  of  far  greater  importance.  As 
Mr.  Pitt  so  well  explained,  England's  policy  it  is  to  preserve  the  balance 
of  power  in  Europe.  No  matter  what  may  be  the  atrocities  of  the 
Turks,  their  power  must  be  bolstered  up  by  England,  or  there  will  be 
no  barrier  in  the  way  of  Russia's  advance  into  Asia,  and  her  ultimate 
seizure  of  our  empire  in  India." 

Gus  whistled.  "  So  that's  the  idea,"  he  said  ;  "  but  wouldn't  India 
be  just  as  well  off  under  Russian  as  under  English  rule  ?" 

Lord  Saunters  turned  purple  ;  and  Lady  Saunters,  who  had  been 
rummaging  in  her  reticule,  handed  her  husband  some  pellets. 

"  Now,  my  dear,"  she  remarked  persuasively,  "  you  know  you 
ahva)'s  take  Nux  when  Mr.  Gladstone  speaks.  Really,  Master 
Benton,  I  must  request  you  not  to  bring  up  these  exciting  topics. 
It  is  almost  as  bad  for  my  husband  as  attendance  on  Parliament. 
His  physician  has  absolutely  prohibited  politics  on  this  trip,  —  politics 
and  pork-pie,  and  my  poor  husband  is  so  devoted  to  both." 

Lady  Saunters's  care  of  her  husband  would  have  been  touching  if 
it  had  been  less  absurd.  For  some  reason  not  understood  by  the 
Bentons,  she  imagined  that  Friday  was  a  more  trying  day  for  her 
husband  than  any  other.  It  may  have  been  the  day  on  which,  when 
in  England,  he  devoted  most  attention  to  parliamentary  debates.  Gus 
pretended  to  imagine  that  Lady  Saunters  belonged  to  a  new  order  ot 
religionists,  similar  to  the  Seventh-day  Baptists,  and  that  she  observed 
Friday  as  a  sacred  day  of  rest.  Certainly  she  kept  it  with  a  more  than 
Sabbatical  rigidity. 

On  Friday,  at  breakfast.  Lady  Saunters  watched  her  husband's 
plate  with  a  keenness  which  must  have  been  very  exasperating  to 
her  A'ictim. 

"  No  fish,"  she  would  say  to  the  waiter.  "  It  is  a  relic  of  Romish 
superstition  to  eat  fish  on  Friday.  Besides,  fish  contains  phosphorus, 
and  is  very  stimulating  to  the  brain." 


LADY  SAUNTERS.  ^  j 

"My  dear"  (this  to  her  husband),  "you  are  surely  not  going  to 
take  curry ;  you  know  it  is  Friday." 

On  Friday,  Lady  Saunters  substituted  readings  from  translations  of 
Latin  authors  or  from  Hamerton's  "  Intellectual  Life,"  which  she  car- 
ried with  her,  for  the  morning  newspaper. 

"The  newspapers,"  she  confided  to  Sallie,  "so  often  irritate  my 
husband,  while  I  have  observed  that  readings  from  Virgil,  my  readings 
especially,  are  apt  to  have  a  soothing  and  sleep-inducing  effect." 

Lady  Saunters's  readings  frequently  produced  a  desire  to  sleep  in  all 
who  heard  her.  Her  husband  invariably  covered  his  patient  visage  with 
his  handkerchief  at  the  beginning  of  this  ordeal,  and  sleep  soon  rescued 
him  from  the  infliction.  These  Friday  readings  were  uninterrupted  by 
sea  or  land  travel,  and  it  was  entirely  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  day 
after  their  arrival  in  Trieste  happened  to  be  a  Friday  that  Sallie  met 
Captain  Miiller. 

"What  pleased  you  most  in  Venice?"  Algernon  Saunters  asked 
of  Gus. 

"The  bronze  horses  of  Lysippus,"  the  boy  replied,  "above  the 
Cathedral  of  St.  Mark's." 

"  If  you  go  to  Constantinople,"  said  the  young  man,  "  you  will  see 
the  hippodrome  where  they  once  stood  beside  the  race-track  of  the 
Emperor  Constantine  surrounded  by  the  best  chariot  horses  of  the 
empire,  where  the  donkeys  of  the  Mussulman  now  congregate." 


38 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND   TURKEY. 


CHAPTER   I\'. 


AX    UNEXPECTED    MEETING. 


SALLIE  had  mentioned  to  Lady  Saunters  at  breakfast  that  she  was 
hungry  for  some  American  newspapers. 
"  Sh !  "    exclaimed    my  lady,   pointingr   to    her  husband;    and   after 
breakfast  Lady  Saunters  explained  that  on  any  other  day  she  would 

have  asked  her  husband  to  send  for  them 
to  the  office  of  the  Austrian  Lloyd's  Steam- 
ship Company. 

"  Gus  and  I  can  get  them,"  said  Sallie  ; 
"  we  would  like  the  walk." 

"  I  fancy  nothing  can  happen  to  you," 
she  said  dubiously,  as  they  set  out. 

Gus  laughed  heartily  as  soon  as  they 
were  out  of  hearing.  "The  very  idea  of 
anything  happening  to  you.  Sallie  !  " 

"It  is  absurd,"  she  replied,  "but  the 
good  woman  means  it  kindly." 

They  walked  down  the  Corso,  the  prin- 
cipal   thoroughfare,   and    found    their   way 
after  a  time  to  the  Tergesteum,  so  named 
from  the  ancient  Roman  name  of  the  city, 
a  handsome  building  containing  the  steamer  offices,  a  grand  ball-room, 
and  several  reading-rooms. 

"I  wonder  whether  ladies  are  admitted."  queried  Sallie. 
"  I    will  find  out,"   said  Gus,  and  he  accosted  an  officer  who  was 
passing.      This  gentleman   turned  politel)-,  and  was  about  to  give  the 


AN    UNEXPECTED    MEETING. 


AN  UNEXPECTED   MEETING. 


39 


desired  information  when  his  eye  fell  upon  Sallie,  and  he  stopped 
in  the  middle  of  his  sentence,  a  look  of  the  utmost  surprise  on  his 
features.     Sallie  in  turn  gave  a  little  gasp,  and  then  laughed  merrily. 

"  Why,  Captain  Miiller  ! "  she  exclaimed,  "  you  are  the  last  man  that 
I  expected  to  meet  here."  "  Or  wanted  to,"  added  Gus,  under  his 
breath.  But,  for  a  young  woman  who  had  certainly  made  this 
announcement.  Miss  Sallie's  behavior  durinor  the  next  hour  or  so  was 
most  contradictory  and  mystifying. 

Captain  Miiller,  recovering  from  his  astonishment,  offered  to  show 
them  the  Tergesteum  ;  and,  although  Sallie  professed  herself  deeply 
interested  in  everything,  Gus  ascertained  afterward  that  she  had  paid 
no  attention  to  the  building.  The  inspection  lasted  a  long  time,  and  as 
they  left,  Sallie  remarked  that  they  were  going  to  the  Byzantine  Cathe- 
dral in  the  old  part  of  the  city,  and  Captain  Miiller  offered  to  show 
them  the  way.  Gus  was  surprised  that 
she  should  accept  this  offer,  for  they  had 
looked  out  the  way  together  on  a  map 
which  Sallie  had  in  her  pocket  at  that 
moment.  Moreover,  it  soon  transpired 
that  Captain  Miiller  had  never  visited 
the  cathedral,  and  that  either  he  did  not 
.know  the  route  or  was  purposely  making 
it  as  long  as  possible ;  but  when  Gus 
suggested  that  his  sister  should  refer  to 
the  map,  the  sly  puss  scowled  at  him  in 
a  manner  which  showed  that  she  knew 
perfectly  well  what  she  was  about.  They 
reached  the  cathedral  at  last,  but  when 

Gus  would  have  dragged  them  at  once  to  the  spot  where  the  guide- 
book told  them  that  the  stones  with  old  Roman  inscriptions  were  built 
into  the  wall,  Sallie  declared  that  she  was  too  tired  to  take  another 
step,  and  seated  herself  in  a  corner  sheltered  by  a  confessional.     There 


CAPTAIN    MULLER. 


^O  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

was  no  one  in  the  church,  and  they  chatted  in  a  low  tone,  Giis 
remaining  with  them  for  a  time,  but  finally  strolled  away  to  make  a 
note  ot  the  inscriptions. 

"And  how  does  it  happen  that  you  are  here  in  Trieste?"  Sallie 
asked  of  the  captain. 

"  I  have  a  furlough,"  he  explained,  "  and  am  visiting  an  aunt." 

"  Then  you  are  still  in  the  army?"  He  was  not  in  uniform,  and  at 
first  Sallie  had  presumed  too  much  from  this  circumstance. 

"  Yes,  I  am  still  in  the  army.  There  is  no  other  career  open  to 
me,  you  know.  Do  you  still  retain  your  prejudice  against  everything 
military  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have  grown  to  hate  war  more  than  ever,  and  I  am  sorry 
that  a  friend  of  mine  should  have  adopted  it  as  his  profession." 

Captain  Miiller  was  silent  for  a  moment.  He  wanted  to  tell  her 
that  he  had  come  to  think  as  she  did,  and  that  he  was  ready,  if  she 
could  only  reward  him  by  becoming  his  wife,  to  give  up  his  commission 
and  seek  some  other  career,  but  it  seemed  to  him  that  such  a  declara- 
tion would  sound  very  abrupt,  and  that  it  ought  to  be  worked  up  to. 
*'  My  sister  has  married  a  Russian  nobleman,"  he  remarked,  "  and  has 
offered  to  secure  me  a  position  in  Russia.  Do  you  think  you  will  visit 
Russia?     I  would  like  to  have  you  know  my  sister." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  but  it  is  hardly  possible.  We  are  on  our 
way  now  to  visit  Mrs.  Davenport  and  her  daughter,  who  are  in 
Vienna." 

"  How  I  would  like  to  see  them  again  !  You  must  let  me  bring  my 
aunt  to  call  upon  )-ou  before  you  leave,  and  show  you  about  Trieste." 

"  I  am  sorry,  but  we  leave  to-morrow." 

"  So  soon  ?  There  is  much  that  is  interestinof  in  this  old  Austrian 
seaport." 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  they  were  quite  alone,  their  conversation 
was  constrained.  There  was  a  great  barrier  between  them,  which  each 
wished  away,  but  neither  knew  how  to  remove.     Gus  came  back  with 


AN  UNEXPECTED  MEETING.  .j 

the  inscriptions,  and  the  opportunity  was  gone.  "  It  is  awfully  late," 
he  remarked.     "  What  do  you  suppose  Sennacherib  will  say?" 

"  Let  me  escort  you  to  your  hotel,"  said  the  captain. 

"  Indeed,  there  is  no  need  of  it,"  Sallie  replied,  hastily  producing  at 
this  late  juncture  the  map.  "  Gus  and  I  are  quite  used  to  making  our 
way  about  alone." 

She  spoke  so  earnestly  that  Captain  Miiller  perceived  that  for 
some  reason  his  company  was  not  desired.  They  went  down  the  steps 
of  the  cathedral  together,  and  he  bowed  politely,  saying  simply,  ''Auf 
7viedersehenr 

His  brain  was  in  a  tumult.  He  had  thought  that  he  had  forgotten 
Sallie,  but  at  this  chance  meeting  all  the  old  feelings  rushed  back  tem- 
pestuously. "  She  must  reverse  her  refusal,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I 
shall  try  again,  and  this  time  I  shall  succeed." 

But  what  opportunity  had  he  for  a  second  trial  ?  She  had  said  that 
they  were  to  leave  Trieste  on  the  next  morning,  presumably  for  Vienna. 
He  consulted  a  railway  guide,  and  quickly  decided  upon  the  train  which 
they  would  probably  take.  He  then  purchased  one  first-class  ticket  for 
this  train,  and,  returning  to  his  aunt's  residence,  informed  that  aston- 
ished  woman  that  he  had  just  heard  that  his  old  general  was  in  Vienna, 
and  wished  to  see  him  there. 

He  quieted  his  uneasy  conscience  with  the  thought  that  he  was 
willinor  to  recognize  Sallie  as  his  commandinor  officer  from  this  time 
forward,  and  he  hoped  with  all  his  heart  that  she  really  wished  to  meet 
him. 

Frau  Miiller  bustled  about  packing  her  nephew's  lunch-basket,  with 
true  Austrian  providence.  "  Such  a  summons  bodes  good  luck,"  she 
said  pleasantly.  "  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  you  were  going  to  be 
promoted." 

"  I  hope  so,"  Captain  Miiller  replied,  a  great  light  shining  in  his 
eyes. 


,2  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  A\'  RL/SS/A    AND    TURKEY. 


CHAPTER   V. 

A    NEWSPAPER    CORRESPONDENT   AND    A    TRIP   TO    RAGUSA. 

SALLIE  and  Gus  walked  toward  dielr  hotel  for  some  time  in  silence. 
Sallie  was  thinking  self- reproachfully.  "What  a  foolish  girl  I  am! 
Captain  Miiller  is  still  in  the  army,  a  fact  that  shows  that  he  does  not 
care  for  me.  I  did  not  intend  ever  to  see  him  again.  I  must  not, 
since  meeting  him  can  make  me  so  unhapp)." 

Gus  interrupted  her  reverie.      "  Sallie,  I  am  ashamed  of  you  !r" 

"  Yes,  Gus  ?  " 

"You  have  been  behaving  badly,  and  you  know  it.  I  did  not  think 
my  sister  was  capable  of  flirting." 

"  Flirting !  " 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  else  )-ou  call  the  way  you  have  just 
been  ooino-  on,  —  letting  this  German  officer  know  where  we  are 
going,  and  when.  I  would  not  be  surprised  if  we  met  him  on  the 
train  to-morrow." 

"Do  you  think  so?  I  hope  not.  Really,  Gus,  I  never  wish  to 
meet  him  again." 

"  So  you  have  said  before  ;  but  I  must  say  that  your  actions  hardly 
bear  out  your  words,  and  I  don't  see  how  )'ou  are  going  to  avoid  it 
now." 

"  We  might  take  a  different  train.  We  will  change  our  plans  in 
some  way  to  avoid  the  meeting." 

On  arriving  at  the  hotel,  they  found,  much  to  their  surprise,  that 
Lord  Saunters  had  arranged  an  excursion  which  exacth'  fitted  into  their 
present  mood. 


A    NEWSPAPER   CORRESPONDENT.  —  TO   RAGUSA.  .-, 

Lady  Saunters  looked  flurried  and  anxious.  "  Such  an  unfortunate 
occurrence!"  she  confided  to  Salhe.  "  Algy  has  met  an  old  friend,  a 
newspaper  correspondent,  —  think  of  it,  my  dear,  of  all  persons  in  the 
world,  —  and  has  introduced  him  to  his  father,  and  he  has  been  excit- 
ing him  sadly.  He  actually  proposes  that  we  shall  make  a  trip  to 
Montenegro,  to  see  those  horrid  conspirators." 

"  We  can  go  very  comfortably,"  Algernon  insisted,  "  by  a  little 
steamer  of  the  Austrian  Lloyds  which  runs  down  the  Dalmatian  coast 
to  Cattaro  in  four  days.  Then,  I  think  that  Miss  Benton  would  enjoy 
the  trip.  She  can  return  to  Trieste  with  perfect  safety,  and  it  will  give 
her  something  quite  out  of  the  common.  Then,  too,  it  is  quite  on 
our  way  to  Athens.  There  is  an  excellent  hotel  at  Cattaro,  the  Maria 
Teresa,  and  you  ladies  can  remain  there,  if  you  prefer,  while  we  make 
the  horseback  excursion  to  Montenegro,  though  I  hope  you  will  decide 
to  accompany  us.  Mr.  Osborne  is  a  delightfully  entertaining  man. 
You  ouofht  to  know  him." 

Sallie  had  never  seen  Algernon  Saunters  so  enthusiastic,  and  he 
had  certainly  never  before  manifested  the  least  interest  in  her  plans ; 
but  she  hardly  noticed  this  circumstance,  for  her  ear  had  caught  a 
familiar  name. 

"  Mr.  Osborne !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Is  it  the  war  correspondent, 
James  Osborne  ?  He  is  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine  also,  and  is  to 
marry  my  friend,  Melicent  Davenport.  He  is  one  of  the  most  disinter- 
ested and  self-sacrificing  of  men.  I  am  so  glad  that  you  are  going  with 
him  !  You  will  gain  some  entirely  new  ideas,  I  am  sure,  and  you  may 
be  perfectly  certain  that  whatever  James  Osborne  tells  you  is  reliable. 
He  has  such  a  sense  of  even-handed  justice  all  round,  and  is  never 
carried  away  by  impulses." 

Lord  Saunters  smiled,  and  my  lady  remarked  incredulously, — 

"  But  you  are  not  at  all  certain  that  this  newspaper  correspondent 
whom  my  husband  has  picked  up  is  the  very  perfect  person  of  whom 
you  are  speaking.      I   have  a  horror  of  all   newspaper  men  :    they  are 


44  THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND    TURKEY. 

perpetually  turnini^  one's  preconceived  notions  upside  down.  I  am 
positive  that  the  world  would  be  much  better  off  without  newspapers." 

"  My  dear  mother,"  remarked  Algernon,  "  listen  to  what  your 
favorite  modern  writer,  Mr.  Hamerton,  says  about  them  ;  "  and  Lord 
Saunters  opened  the  "Intellectual  Life"  and  read  aloud,  "'News- 
papers are  to  the  whole  civilized  world  what  the  daily  house-talk  is  to 
the  members  of  a  household  ;  they  keep  up  our  daily  interest  in  each 
other,  they  save  us  from  the  evils  of  isolation.  To  live  as  a  member 
of  the  great  white  race,  that  has  filled  Europe  and  America  and  colo- 
nized or  conquered  whatever  other  territories  it  has  been  pleased  to 
occupy,  it  is  necessary  that  every  man  should  read  his  daily  newspaper. 
Why  are  the  French  peasants  so  bewildered  and  at  sea,  so  out  of  place, 
in  the  modern  world  ?  It  is  because  they  never  read  a  newspaper. 
And  why  are  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  so  much  more  capa- 
ble of  concerted  political  action,  so  much  more  alive  and  modern,  so 
much  more  interested  in  new  discoveries  of  all  kinds,  and  capable  of 
selecting  and  utilizing  the  best  of  them?  It  is  because  the  newspaper 
penetrates  everywhere, 

"  '  In  times  when  great  historical  events  are  passing  before  our  eyes, 
the  journalist  is  to  the  future  historians  what  the  African  traveller  is  to 
the  map-makers.  His  work  is  the  fresh  record  of  an  eye-witness,  and 
enables  us  to  become  ourselves  spectators  of  the  mighty  drama  of  the 
world.  Never  was  this  service  so  well  rendered  as  it  is  now,  by  corre- 
spondents who  achieve  heroic  feats  of  bodily  and  mental  prowess,  expos- 
ing themselves  to  the  greatest  dangers,  and  writing  much  and  well 
in  circumstances  the  most  unfavorable  to  literary  composition.  How 
vividly  the  English  war  correspondents  brought  before  us  the  great 
conflict  between  Germany  and  France  !  What  a  romantic  achievement, 
worthy  to  be  sung  in  heroic  verse,  was  the  finding  of  Livingstone  by 
Stanley  !  Yet,  with  your  contempt  for  newspapers,  you  would  lose  all 
this  profitable  entertainment,  and  seek,  instead  of  it,  the  accounts  of 
former  epochs,  written,  in  most  cases,  by  men  in  libraries,  who  had  not 


A    NEWSPAPER   CORRESPONDENT.—  TO   RAGUSA.  .7 

seen  the  sovereigns  they  wrote  about,  nor  talked  with  the  people  whose 
condition  they  attempted  to  describe.  You  have  a  respect  for  these 
accounts  because  they  are  printed  in  books,  and  bound  in  leather,  and 
entitled  "  history,"  whilst  you  despise  the  direct  observation  of  a  man 
like  Erdan,  because  he  is  only  a  journalist,  and  his  letters  are  published 
in  a  newspaper.' " 

"Did  Hamerton  write  that?"  asked  Lady  Saunters.  "Does  he 
praise  newspaper  men  and  —  and  Ainericans  in  that  way  ?" 

"  He  certainly  does,  and  "  —  looking  at  a  card  which  a  servant 
handed  him  —  "you  shall  have  the  opportunity  of  judging  of  Mr. 
Osborne  for  yourself,  for  here  he  is." 

"And  he  is  our  Mr.  Osborne  !  I  was  sure  of  it !"  Sallie  exclaimed 
delightedly,  frankly  giving  the  journalist  her  hand.  "  Dear  Lady  Saun- 
ters, he  wrote  some  of  those  very  letters  to  English  papers,  relative  to 
the  siege  of  Paris,  which  Mr.  Hamerton  praises  so  highly." 

Lady  Saunters  received  the  correspondent  graciously,  and  on  the 
next  morning  the  party  embarked  on  a  small  steamer  for  the  Dalmatian 
coast  at  precisely  the  same  hour  that  Captain  Miiller  excitedly  sprang 
upon  the  Vienna  train.  We  cannot  say  that  Sallie  had  no  self-accusing 
or  half-regretful  thoughts  as  she  watched  the  prow  of  the  steamer  cut- 
ting the  blue  Adriatic,  but  she  was  a  girl  who  was  accustomed  to  keep 
a  strong  rein  upon  her  own  feelings.  "  I  am  not  going  to  break  my 
heart  for  the  sake  of  the  captain,"  she  kept  saying  resolutely  to  herself, 
as  she  listened  smilingly  and  replied  intelligently  to  Mr.  Osborne's 
explanations  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  Turkish  provinces  and  his 
descriptions  of  points  on  the  coast. 

Their  first  stop  on  their  second  day  was  at  Spalatro,  famed  for  the 
ruins  of  Diocletian's  villa.  Fergusson,  in  his  "  History  of  Architecture," 
says  that  this  is  the  only  Roman  palace  of  which  sufficient  remains  are 
left  to  enable  us  to  judge  of  its  extent  or  arrangements,  and  that  it 
gives  us  a  most  exalted  idea  of  what  the  splendor  of  the  imperial 
palace  at  Rome  must  have  been,  when  we  find  one  emperor  —  neither 


48 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 


the  richest  nor  the  most  powerful  —  building  for  his  retirement  a  villa 
surpassing  in  size,  as  it  did  in  magnificence,  most  of  the  modern  palaces 
of  Europe. 

"  I  wonder  whether  he  was  happy  here,"  Sallie  asked,  as  they 
threaded  their  way  between  the  Corinthian  capitals. 

"  I  think  we  need  not  envy  him,"  James  Osborne  replied,  "  for  he 
was  old  and  sick  in  body.  Do  you  not  notice  that  the  two  principal 
apartments  in  the  villa  are  a  temple  to  ^sculapius  and  his  own  mau- 
soleum ?  It  seems  to  say  that  he  had  built  the  temple  to  the  deity 
of  the  physicians  as  a  last  hope,  but  with  very  little  certainty  of  his 
recover)'." 

"  Poor  Diocletian  !  "  Sallie  murmured.  They  were  pacing  the  long 
and  splendid  gallery  which  extends  along  the  entire  seaward  side  of 
the  palace.  "  What  a  magnificent  view  we  have  from  this  arcade,  and 
its  being  placed  here  shows  that  the  emperor  must  have  appreciated  its 
beaut}'.  How  often  he  must  have  walked  to  and  fro  here,  looking 
away  to  Ital}' !  " 

Lady  Saunters  condescended  to  be  interested,  and  asked  her  hus- 
band wh)'  the  ruins  had  not  long  since  been  carried  to  London  and  set 
up  in  the  South  Kensington  Museum. 

"  Do  arrange  for  it,  my  dear.  I  am  sure  they  are  a  great  deal  more 
interestincr  than  those  broken-nosed  things  which  Lord  Klein  broug-ht 
back." 

"  Unfortunately,  the  Austrian  Government  might  have  something  to 
say  if  in  this  instance  I  joined  the  Societe  pour  le  \'ol  des  Monumens 
Anciens,"  Lord  Saunters  replied  good-naturedly. 

Their  next  landing-place  was  Ragusa,  for  here  Mr.  Osborne  wished 
to  meet  Peco  Pavlovitch,  a  leader  of  the  Montenegfrins,  who  had 
sallied  out  to  the  assistance  of  the  insurofent  Herzeofovinians,  and  was 
encamped  in  the  neighboring  mountains.  He  urged  Lord  Saunters  to 
accompany  him,  saying  that  he  felt  sure  that  personal  observation 
would  change  his  views  of  what  he  persisted  in  calling  "  the  bandits." 


A    NEWSPAPER   CORRESPONDENT.— TO   RAGUSA.  cj 

As  Gus  snuffed  adventure  in  this  expedition,  he  was  eager  to  join  at, 
and  was  allowed  to  do  so.  The  gentlemen  set  off  on  horseback, 
accompanied  by  a  guide.  It  was  hard  for  Sallie  to  remain  behind  at 
the  hotel ;  but,  as  Lady  Saunters  insisted  that  the  trip  was  a  very 
unsuitable  one  for  ladies,  she  contented  herself  with  remainino-  at  the 
hotel.  Lord  Saunters's  private  secretary,  a  Mr.  Norcross,  was  left 
behind  to  guard  them.  Mr.  Norcross  occupied  a  singular  position, 
evidently  regarded  as  a  little  more  than  servant  and  less  than  equal  ; 
he  was  treated  with  the  more  kindness  on  that  account.  He  was  the 
son  of  an  officer,  and  had  been  a  classmate  of  Algernon  Saunters  at 
the  military  school.  He  felt  keenly  his  poverty,  and  Algernon  pitied 
rather  than  liked  him,  for,  though  a  brilliant  scholar, 
his  disposition  was  envious  and  unlovable.  They 
had  similar  tastes,  however,  in  many  respects  ;  and 
as  Norcross  hoped  for  an  appointment  in  the  India 
service,  he  had  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  sev- 
eral Oriental  laneuaees,  which  Alofernon  had  taken 
up  for  love  of  the  literature.  They  were  now  study- 
inof  Turkish  together.     Norcross  had   oreat  facility 

^  _^  ^^  ^  MR.    NORCROSS. 

in  the  acquisition  of  languages,  and,  it  seemed  to 
Sallie,  equal  facility  in  the  acceptance  of  other  people's  opinions  :  he 
boasted  that  he  had  no  religion  of  his  own,  that  he  could  become  a 
Buddhist  or  a  Mahometan  without  violating  his  own  principles.  Alger- 
non insisted  that  his  friend  did  not  mean  half  he  said,  but  Sallie  disliked 
and  distrusted  the  man.  Algernon  himself  was  a  doubtful  quantity  in 
Sallie's  judgment.  He  had  shown  that  he  was  capable  of  enthusiasm, 
and  she  felt  that  if  only  some  great  cause  would  appeal  to  his 
slumbering  energies  he  might  wake  up,  and  do  good  and  noble  work 
in  the  world  for  the  right.  But  his  inertness  exasperated  her  more 
than  Norcross's  assumption  of  bad  principles.  "  I  want  a  man  to  be 
something','  she  said  to  Gus,  "  and  Algernon  Saunters  is  lukewarm  in 
everything." 


:^2  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

"  I  like  him,  though,"  Gus  insisted.  "  There's  stuff  in  him  which 
will  show  itself  yet,  only  you  are  such  an  awfully  impatient  '  hitch-your- 
wag-on-to-a-star  '  kind  of  a  girl.  But  I  tell  you  what,  Sallie,  don't  have 
anything  to  do  with  that  Norcross,  —  he's  a  cad." 

After  the  departure  of  the  gentlemen,  Sallie  persuaded  her 
chaperon  to  go  with  her  to  the  citadel,  to  see  the  refugees  from  the 
districts  invaded  by  the  Turkish  army.  Mr.  Norcross  accompanied 
them  in  this  expedition.  Lady  Saunters  liked  the  young  man  because 
of  a  certain  superficial  resemblance  which  he  bore  her  son,  w^hich  had 
struck  her  at  their  first  meeting ;  and  when  Norcross  had  failed  to 
receive  the  appointment  which  he  had  hoped  for,  she  joined  with  her 
son  in  persuading  Lord  Saunters  to  engage  him  as  his  secretary'. 

They  found  the  refugees  in  the  greatest  of  destitution.  The 
Austrian  Government  issued  rations  amounting:  to  about  half  enouofh 
food  to  support  life,  and  they  were  dependent  for  the  remainder  upon 
private  charity. 

Lady  Saunters,  while  entirely  disapproving  of  the  refugees,  handed 
Mr.  Norcross  her  purse,  and  commissioned  him  to  distribute  loaves  of 
bread  among  them. 

"  Why  don't  the  silly  things  go  back  to  their  homes?"  she  asked 
of  the  secretary. 

"  Because,  madam,   they  are  afraid  of  the  Turks." 

"  But  the  Turks  will  not  hurt  them  if  they  are  not  insurgents. 
Is  there  any  one  among  them  who  can  speak  English  ?  I  would  like 
to  have  a  good  talk  with  them." 

Mr.  Norcross  replied  that  there  was  one  family,  in  another  part  of 
the  fortress,  whose  daughters  could  speak  a  little  English,  for  they  had 
attended  a  mission  school.  As  they  approached  them,  Sallie  was 
struck  with  their  well-to-do  appearance,  in  strong  contrast  with  that 
of  the  other  refugees.  The  two  sisters,  Marika  and  Katarinka,  were 
strikingly  unlike.  Marika's  broad  white  forehead  was  as  pure  as  a 
pond-lily  ;   her  eyes  were  blue  and   shy  ;   she  was   dressed    in   a  white 


PEASANT    GIRLS. 


A    NEWSPAPER   CORRESPONDENT.  — TO   RAGUSA.  rr 

robe  with  belt  at  the  waist  with  two  great  clasps  of  burnished  silver, 
and  necklace  of  silver  coins,  and  a  strand  of  gold  beads  was  her 
only  other  ornament ;  her  whole  appearance  was  full  of  simplicity  and 
modesty.  Katarinka,  her  elder  sister,  had  a  more  decided  but  less 
pleasing  countenance.  There  was  a  vindictive  look  in  the  slant 
glances  of  her  dark  eyes,  and  her  rich  lips  had  a  sullen  turn.  She 
was  more  showily  dressed  than  Marika,  with  a  profusion  of  sequin 
necklaces  and  other  jewelry.  Both  of  the  girls  held  skeins  of  yarn 
of  their  own  spinning,  Marika  a  hen,  and  Katarinka  a  basket  of 
pomegranates,  which  they  offered  for  sale.  Their  father  scowled 
sullenly  in  the  background,   and  the  mother  tended  a  sick  child. 

"  You  are  from  the  interior  ? "  Sallie  asked  ;  "  and  they  tell  me  you 
have  attended  an  American  school." 

The  faces  of  both  girls  lightened  instantly,  and  Katarinka  replied, — 

"  Yes,  lady,  at  Samokov." 

"  Ah  !   then  you  must  know  my  friend,  Alice  Newton." 

Marika  knelt  quickly  and  kissed  Sallie's  hand. 

"  Why  are  you  not  at  the  school  now  ? "  Lady  Saunters  asked 
sternly. 

"We  live  in  Servia,  half-way  between  Ragusa  and  Samokov,  and 
were  at  home  on  vacation  when  the  Turks  under  Mukhtar  invaded  our 
country,  and  we  fled  here  for  protection." 

"You  would  have  done  much  better  to  put  yourself  under  the 
care  of  the  American  missionaries  at  Samokov,"  Lady  Saunters  replied 
authoritatively,  "  and  Mukhtar  Pacha  would  respect  them,  while  now, 
by  running  away,  you  put  yourselves  in  the  attitude  of  conspirators.  I 
advise  you  to  go  straight  to  your  school,  and  not  to  bother  your  heads 
about  the  war.  It  will  soon  be  over.  My  husband  represents  England, 
and  he  has  gone  to  advise  Peco  Pavlovitch  to  lead  his  disorderly  ban- 
dits back  to  Montenegro ;  and  as  soon  as  he  does  that,  and  the  Turks 
find  there  is  no  army  in  the  field  to  fight,  why,  of  course,  there  will  be 
no  fighting," 


56 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND    TURKEY. 


The  girls  looked  very  doubtful.  "  Cousin  Trajan  says  we  will 
never  have  a  settled  peace  until  we  have  a  war,"  Marika  replied, 
"  He  says  that,  if  all  the  provinces  united,  they  could  drive  the  Turks 
out ;  and  his  opinion  is  held  by  all  '  Young  Bulgaria.'  It  was  cousin 
Trajan  who  advised  us  to  come  to  Ragusa,  for  he  says  that  we  are 
going  to  have  terrible  times,  and  that  even  the  missionaries  will  not  be 
able  to  protect  us ;  but  here  we  are  under  Austria  and  near  Monte- 
negro. Cousin  Trajan  says  the  only  two  men  capable  of  saving  the 
Christians  are  Prince  Milan  of  Servia  and  Prince  Nicholas  of  Monte- 
negro. If  they  will  only  combine  and  set  the  example  to  the  other 
states  by  declaring  war  against  Turkey,  Bulgaria  and  the  rest  will  rise, 
and  we  will  not  need  the  assistance  of  any  of  the  great  powers  of 
Europe  to  settle  our  affairs.  Cousin  Trajan  has  gone  to  Belgrade  to 
see  Prince  Milan,  and  he  is  going  to  see  Prince  Nicholas  too  "  — 

"  Sh  !  "  said  Katarinka  warningly  ;  and  Lady  Saunters  exclaimed 
that  she  feared  cousin  Trajan  must  be  a  very  bad  man,  and  a  traitor 
and  conspirator. 

"  You  will  never  make  Marika  think  so,"  said  the  older  sister. 
"  She  is  betrothed  to  Trajan.  He  is  a  jeweller  of  Tatar  Bazardjik 
in  Bulgaria.  He  made  all  our  jewelry.  Marika  is  not  fond  of  trinkets, 
so  she  gives  most  of  his  presents  to  me.  Only  the  buckles  to  her 
girdle  she  would  not  give  to  any  one,  for  they  represent  her  betrothal. 
See,  one  clasp  is  engraved  with  Trajan's  initials,  and  one  with  hers  ; 
and,  while  those  clasps  hold  together,  the  engagement  holds." 

"It  is  a  very  pretty  fancy,"  said  Sallie,  examining  the  buckle. 
"  Your  cousin  Trajan  must  be  a  very  clever  goldsmith.  I  should 
think  he  would  be  sorry  to  have  you  so  far  away.  I  really  think  that 
you  would  be  as  safe  at  the  mission- school,  and  that  you  had  better  go 
back.  I  will  write  a  note  for  you  to  take  to  my  friend.  Miss  Newton. 
You  must  tell  her  that  I  am  coming  to  see  her,  and  that  I  hope  to  find 
you  both  at  the  school." 

Sallie  purchased  the  girl's  yarn,  and  Lady  Saunters  made  them  each 


A    NEWSPAPER   CORRESPONDENT— TO  RAGUSA.  ry 

a  small  present,  reiterating  her  assurance  that  there  would  be  no  war 
in  Bulgaria  or  Servia,  for  the  Herzegovinian  outbreak  would  be  speedily- 
put  down. 

"Those  are  the  first  Bulgarian  or  Servian  girls  that  I  have  seen," 
said  Mr.  Norcross.  "  If  they  are  all  as  pretty,  1  don't  blame  the  Turks 
for  wishing  to  keep  their  provinces." 


eg  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE    ADVENTURES    BEGIN, 

WHILE  the  ladles  were  having  this  interview,  the  gentlemen  of 
the  party  pursued  their  way  over  a  rocky,  mountainous  road 
toward  the  camp  of  the  insurgents.  Sometimes  the  track  wound 
around  the  cliffs  close  to  the  sea,  and  they  had  superb  views  of  the 
Adriatic  and  its  islands  ;  then,  again,  it  plunged  into  a  dark  defile,  or 
climbed  the  steep  mountains  winding  toward  the  interior. 

It  was  nearly  nightfall  when,  jaded  and  weary,  they  reached  a  pass 
overlooking  the  camp,  a  collection  of  miserable  huts.  Several  armed 
men,  dressed  very  much  like  stage  bandits  at  the  theatre,  in  a  profusion 
of  gold  embroidery,  velvet  jackets,  baggy  trousers,  leggins,  and  fez 
caps,  with  a  most  formidable  array  of  long  rifles,  pistols,  and  daggers, 
stopped  their  progress. 

Mr.  Osborne  handed  one  of  them  a  paper,  which  was  signed  by 
their  leader,  and  the  man  volunteered  to  show  them  to  the  hut  of 
Peco  Pavlovitch. 

Wild-looking  men  started  up  on  every  side,  and  Gus,  more  than 
half  friehtened,  rode  close  to  Mr.  Osborne. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  you  have  not  made  a  mistake,  and  that  we 
have  not  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Turks  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Mr.  Osborne,  "  these  men  are  all  Christians. 
You  can  tell  that  by  their  mustaches  :  Turks  wear  full  beards,  while 
Christians  in  this  country  shave  all  but  the  upper  lip." 

"Well,  here  is  a  jolly  go!"  Gus  exclaimed:  "by  that  rule,  Lord 
Saunters  is  a  Turk  of  the  worst  kind." 

"  You    are    possibly    not    far    wrong    in    your    deductions,"    Mr. 


THE  ADVENTURES  BEGIN. 


6l 


Osborne  replied,  in  a  low  voice,  and  subsequent  events  proved  that 
the  Englishman's  beard  was  not  regarded  with  favor  by  the  insurgents. 
The  leader,  however,  received  them  all  courteously,  and  a  rude  but 
appetizing  supper  of  roasted  kid  was  immediately  served  them,  after 
which  they  were  invited  to  a  council  in 
Peco's  hut. 

The  room  was  filled  with  smoke, 
and,  though  Algernon  could  make  out 
a  word  now  and  Lhen,  neither  Gus  nor 
Lord  Saunters  could  understand  what 
was  said  ;  but  it  was  interesting  to 
watch  the  faces,  some  of  them  seamed 
with  ugly  scars,  some  fierce  and  re- 
vengeful, others,  as  it  seemed  to  the 
boy,  very  fine  and  noble. 

Gus  especially  liked  the  heroic  ap- 
pearance of  the  Herzegovinian  voi- 
voda,  or  leader,  Ljubibratic.  Peco 
seemed  to  him  more  sad  than  savage. 
He  wore  a  vest  of  silver  mail,  and 
Turkish  weapons  damascened  with 
gold.  Among  them  was  a  cimeter 
of  Damascus,  which  had  been  taken  from  some  fallen  Turkish  officer. 
He  sat  silently  through  the  greater  part  of  the  council,  listening  to 
the  remarks  of  the  other  chiefs,  and  to  those  of  a  Russian  gentleman, 
who  seemed,  like  themselves,  to  be  visiting  the  camp,  but  upon  whom 
Lord  Saunters  looked  with  great  hauteur  and  suspicion. 

After  the  council,  they  were  shown  to  a  hut,  which  was  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  guests.  Lord  Saunters,  thoroughly  wearied,  retired 
at  once,  and  was  soon  snoring  loudly.  Mr.  Osborne  opened  his 
knapsack  writing-desk,  and  began  writing  a  newspaper  letter  by  the 
light  of  a  candle  stuck  in  a  bottle.     Gus  watched  him  until  late   into 


THE    WAR    CORRESPONDENT. 


52  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY'. 

the  night,  as  he  wrote  sheet  after  sheet,  throwing-  them  on  the  floor 
by  his  side  as  he  finished  them.  The  candle  sputtered  and  fell,  and 
still  he  wrote,  wrote,  —  supplying  its  place  by  another  which  he  took 
from  his  pocket.  The  Russian  sat  by  the  rude  fireplace,  smoking,  and 
chattincr  in  a  low  voice  with  Alcrernon  and  with  a  handsome  stranger 
in  a  black  turban.  Gus,  with  an  eye  toward  the  sensational,  at  first 
wondered  if  he  were  not  a  Turkish  spy,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he 
wore  the  distinctive  mustache.  They  were  evidently  talking  about  the 
war,  for  the  stranger  drew  a  map  in  the  ashes  on  the  hearth,  and  Gus 
heard  the  names  of  Prince  Milan  and  Prince  Nicholas,  and  the  w^ord 
Bulgaria,  frequently  repeated.  At  last,  the  Russian  rose,  knocked  the 
ashes  out  of  his  pipe,  and,  shaking  hands  warmly  with  the  stranger, 
retired.  The  man  in  the  black  turban  still  sat  answerinof  Alofernon's 
questions  and  watching  Mr.  Osborne  as  he  wrote  ;  and  Gus  was 
very  sleepy  now, — his  eyes  seemed  dancing  sparks,  which  winked  and 
glimmered,  and  finally  went  out  in  the  darkness. 

When  he  awoke,  it  Avas  broad  daylight,  and  Mr.  Osborne,  who  pos- 
sibly had  not  been  to  bed  at  all,  was  shaking  him,  saying  that  it  was 
time  to  have  breakfast,  and  begin  their  return  journey. 

The  stranger,  who,  Mr.  Osborne  explained,  was  a  travelling  gold- 
smith, would  accompany  them,  as  he  had  said  that  he  wished  to  catch 
the  Austrian  Lloyds  steamer,  and  go  on  without  delay  to  Montenegro. 
So  he  was  not  a  spy  or  a  Turk,  after  all,  but  only  a  prosaic  pedler  who 
had  possibly  sold  Peco  Pavlovitch  his  beautiful  silver  cuirass,  and,  no 
doubt,  found  the  trinket-loving  chiefs  good  patrons  of  his  wares. 

Peco  came  to  see  them  at  their  breakfast,  and  talked  warmly  with 
Mr.  Osborne,  but  appeared  to  regard  Lord  Saunters  and  his  son  with 
some  mistrust.  The  latter  said  to  Mr.  Osborne,  "  Ask  him  how  it  is 
that  he,  a  general  under  Prince  Nicholas,  who  has  not  declared  war 
against  the  Turks,  is  here  with  the  insurgent  Herzegovinians." 

Mr.  Osborne  translated  his  repl)-.  Peco  stated  that,  so  far  from 
sympathizing  with  the  Herzegovinians,  Prince  Nicholas  had  sent  him 


THE  ADVENTURES  BEGIN. 


65 


out  to  dissuade  their  voivoda  from  insurrection.  Ljubibratic  would  not 
listen  to  him,  and  Peco,  greatly  enraged,  arrested  him,  and  was  carry- 
ing him  back  to  Montenegro  a  prisoner.  But  on  the  way  the  voivoda 
argued  his  own  cause  so  eloquently  that  Peco  was  won  over,  and,  liber- 
ating his  prisoner,  returned  with  him  as  his  ally. 

Lord  Saunters  expressed  his  disapproval  of  this  conduct  in  strong 
terms,  but  this  Mr.  Osborne  did  not  see  fit  to  translate,  and,  biddino- 
farewell  to  their  host,  they  were  soon  on  their  return  to  Ragusa. 

But  their  adventures  were  not  at  an  end.  They  were  within  an 
hour's  ride  of  Ragusa  when  their  guide  pointed  out  to  them  the  Turkish 
fort  of  Czarino,  which  commands  the  highway  from  Austria  to  Herzego- 
vina. "The  insurgrents  would  like  to  take  that  fort,"  he  said,  "  but  the 
Turks  are  too  strongly  intrenched  for  them.  However,  they  are  only 
prisoners  in  their  own  fortress,  for  the  Herzegovinians  watch  them  as  a 
cat  watches  a  rat-hole,  and  not  a  turbaned  rat  of  them  dares  venture 
out.  There  is  a  party  now  in  ambush  at  the  next  turn,  waiting  for 
some  unwary  Turk  to  venture  this  way." 

Algernon  Saunters  did  not  like  the  look  of  the  ambuscade,  and 
asked  if  there  were  not  some  other  road  to  Ragusa  ;  but  Mr.  Osborne 
laughed  at  his  fears,  and  approached  the  party  fearlessly.  What  was 
his  surprise  when  the  leader  allowed  all  to  pass  except  Lord  Saunters, 
insisting  that  he  must  remain  with  them  ! 

"  I  told  you  so!  "  groaned  his  Lordship.  "They  are  brigands,  and 
they  intend  to  hold  me  for  ransom." 

Mr.  Osborne  and  Algernon  remonstrated,  and  showed  the  pass- 
port signed  by  Peco.  "  That  is  all  very  well  for  you,"  replied  the 
guard,  "  but  this  man  has  no  passport,  and  we  believe  him  to  be  a 
Turk." 

"  A  Turk  !  "  exclaimed  the  newspaper  correspondent.  "  Any  one 
can  see  that  he  is  an  Englishman  !  " 

"That  makes  no  difference.  The  Englishmen  are  all  Mohamme- 
dans, and  support  everything  that  Turkey  does." 


66 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


"  But  this  gentleman  is  not  a  Mohammedan.      He  is  a  Christian, 
hke  yourself." 

"  If  he  is  a  Christian,  why  does  he  wear  a  beard?" 

"  It  is  the  custom 
in  England." 

"  We  do  not  be- 
lieve it.  If  the  gen- 
tleman will  shave  oft' 
his  beard,  we  will  al- 
low him  to  pass  on. 
If  not,  he  must  remain 
in  our  custody." 

Mr.  Osborne  ex- 
plained the  conditions. 
"  But  I  have  left  my 
shaving-case  at  Ra- 
gusa,"  demurred  Lord 
Saunters.  "That  is 
of  no  consequence.  I 
will  shave  you,"  re- 
^^^^^^^  plied  one  of  the  in- 
=^4  surgents. 

'  Algernon   started, 

and  his  hand  flew  to 
his  revolver.  "  It  is 
a  scheme  to  cut  my 
father's  throat  in  cold 
blood,"  he  whispered  to  Mr.  Osborne.  "  If  there  is  any  shaving  to  be 
done,  I  will  do  it,"  he  said,  aloud.  The  insurgents  did  not  understand 
his  words  as  well  as  his  movement.  One  of  them  threw  a  scarf  over 
his  body,  and  strapped  his  arms  tightly  to  his  side. 

"  There  is   nothing  for  it  but  to  submit,"  explained  Mr.  Osborne. 


A    BARBAROUS    OPERATION. 


INSURGENTS    IN    AMBUSH. 


THE   ADVENTURES  BEGIN. 


69 


"  I  do  not  think  they  meditate  any  evil."  It  was  not,  however,  without 
solemn  assurances  on  the  part  of  the  insurgents,  and  not  until  after 
much  argumentation,  that  his  Lordship  yielded  his  nose  to  the  rude 
hand  of  the  mountaineer,  and  his  chin  to  a  dull  razor.  He  turned  very 
pale  as  the  cold  steel  touched  his  throat ;  and  it  was  really  a  severe  trial 
of  nerve.  It  was  not  until  the 
ordeal  was  over,  Algernon  un- 
bound, and  considerable  distance 
had  been  placed  between  them 
and  the  uno-entle  barbers,  that  ^ 
any  of  the  party  recovered  their  "^^ 
spirits  sufficiently  to  joke.  "  I  ^^ 
consider  that  a  very  barbarous 
operation  !  "  exclaimed  his  Lord- 
ship, not  at  all  intending  a  pun, 
as,  mourning  the  departed  glories 
of  his  whiskers,  he  regarded  his 
lacerated  countenance  In  a  little 
hand-mirror.  "  I'm  sure,  I  don't 
know  what  my  wife  will  say.  I 
believe  she  married  me  for  my 
whiskers." 

Lady  Saunters  was,  indeed, 
very  angry.  She  wished  her  hus- 
band to  make  a  memorial  of  his 
disfigurement,  and  send  it  at  once 
to  the  English  Parliament  and  to 
the  King  of  Austria.  It  was  not  until  her  husband  had  promised  that 
he  would  "  think  of  It"  that  she  was  at  all  appeased. 

They  were   to   leave   Ragusa  that  evening,  and   Sallle  visited  the 
citadel  to  orlve  Marlka  her  note  to  Alice. 

She    found    the   girl   looking  very  happy.      There  was   a   stranger 


DEPARTED    GLORIES. 


jQ  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IIV  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

with  the  family,  whom  she  presented  as  "  Cousin  Trajan."  He  bowed 
poHtely,  but  speedil}'  withdrew  ;  not,  however,  before  SalHe  had  scru- 
tinized him  closely.  He  wore  a  long,  red,  fur-trimmed  cloak,  frogged 
across  the  breast,  like  the  coat  of  an  army  officer.  His  face  was  some- 
what sad,  but  singularly  refined. 

"  Cousin  Trajan  says,"  chatted  Marika,  '*  that  he  thinks  we  may 
return  to  Bulgaria.  There  will  be  no  fighting  at  present,  and,  when 
there  is,  we  are  to  go  up  into  the  Balkans,  to  the  village  of  Batak, 
where  his  mother  lives,  and  there  the  Turks  wall  never  find  us.  His 
father  owns  a  saw-mill,  and  he  can  employ  my  father  in  lumbering,  and 
it  is  only  thirty  miles  from  Tatar  Bazardjik,  where  Trajan's  shop  is, 
so  that  he  can  come  to  see  us  often.  So  to-morrow  we  return,  and 
Katarinka  will  go  for  the  present  to  the  mission  school  at  Samokov. 
But  if  war  breaks  out  we  will  take  Miss  Newlon  with  us  to  the 
Balkans,  and  you  must  come  and  visit  us  there  in  the  hot  weather." 

"May  I  come  too?"  asked  Mr.  Norcross,  who  had  come  to  the 
citadel  with  the  bread  sent  by  Lady  Saunters  ;  but  Marika  shrank  back 
timidl)',  and  made  no  reply,  while  Katarinka  scowled  scornfully  at  the 
presumptuous  stranger. 


MONTENEGRO. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


MONTENEGRO. 


ON  leaving  Ragusa,  the  travelling  jeweller  came  on  board  the 
steamer.  Gus  pointed  him  out  to  his  sister,  and  told  of 
the  circumstances  of  their  first  meeting,  and  how  he  had  imap-ined 
him  a  spy.  It  happened  that  the  man  turned  his  face  toward  them 
while  they  were  speaking  of  him,  and  Sallie  caught  her  brother's  arm 
with  the  whispered  exclamation,  "  Why,  it  is  cousin  Trajan  !" 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Gus,  and  Sallie  in  turn  told  her 
story.  She  had  hardly  finished,  when  Algernon  Saunters  brought  the 
jeweller  forward,  and  presented  him  as  Trajan  Evanova,  explaining 
that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Montenegro  with  some  curious  filigree 
jewelry  for  Prince  Nicholas.  At  their  request,  he  showed  his  wares  to 
the  party,  and  Sallie  bought  a  necklace  of  coins,  and  Lord  Saunters 
a  nearly  globular  bull's-eye  watch.  "  That  watch  Is  Bulgarian,"  said 
Mr.  Osborne  ;  "I  have  seen  some  exactly  similar  made  by  the  native 
goldsmiths  of  Monastir." 

The  merchant  gave  the  correspondent  a  significant  look  as  he 
replied,  "The  goldsmiths  of  the  different  provinces  frequently  inter- 
change their  work  and  their  ideas." 

They  found  tRe  man  courteous  and  intelligent.  Algernon  had 
taken  a  great  fancy  to  him,  and  he  often  chatted  with  them,  Mr. 
Osborne  acting  as  interpreter.  He  told  them  of  the  system  of  taxes 
which  grinds  down  the  poor  peasants,  who  pay  four-fifths  of  what  they 
produce  to  the  Porte.  "  The  silks  of  Turkey  are  justly  noted,"  he  said, 
*'  but  see  how  can  they  be  manufactured  when  the  government  taxes 


/- 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND   TURKEY. 


COUSIN    TRAJAN. 


every  mulberry  tree, 
the  land  upon  which 
it  is  grown,  the  silk- 
worms that  feed  upon  it, 
the  raw  silk,  every  )-ard 
of  goods,  and  even  the 
labor  of  the  weaver.  If 
the  poor  man  has  no 
money  to  pay  his  taxes, 
the  officer  seizes  his 
manufactured  goods,  his 
loom,  his  household  fur- 
niture. If  he  objects  to 
this,  he  is  beaten  and 
imprisoned. 

"It  is  so  with  my 
own  industry.  Not  a 
foot  of  land  can  be 
owned  in  the  provinces 
by  any  one  but  the  Sul- 
tan. The  owners  of  the 
gold  and  silver  mines 
pay  fully  four-fifths  of 
their  products  for  the 
privilege  of  working 
them,  and  I  must  be 
bled  in  like  manner  for 
ever)'  conceivable  item 
of  my  stock  in  trade." 

Mr.  Evanova  ac- 
knowledged to  Alger- 
non, in  confidence,  that 


MONTENEGRIN    SENATOR. 


MONTENEGRO.  ^- 

he  was  a  Bulgarian,  and  the  young  man  suspected  that  his  errand  with 
Prince  Nicholas  was  a  political  one. 

Cettinje,  the  capital  of  Montenegro,  is  situated  at  a  day's  journey 
from  the  coast,  and  is  approached  either  from  the  port  of  Cattaro, 
where  there  is  an  excellent  hotel,  or  from  Spitza.  As  the  latter  route 
would  give  them  a  trip  across  the  Lake  of  Scutari,  besides  taking  them 
through  a  more  picturesque  region,  and  as  Lady  Saunters  was  a  good 
horsewoman,  and  both  she  and  Sallie  preferred  making  the  excursion 
to  Cettinje  to  being  left  at  a  seaside  hotel,  the  party  did  not  land 
again  until  they  reached  Spitza,  where  they  were  taken  over  the 
mountains,  in  a  sort  of  rude  jaunting-car,  to  the  Lake  of  Scutari, 
across  which  a  boatman  took  them,  in  a  small  sail-boat,  to  the  heart  of 
Montenegro. 


mountains  were  all  around  them,  gloomy  and  sombre  ;  and 
Sallie  remarked  to  Algernon  Saunters  that  she  did  not  wonder  that  the 
little  country  had  been  named  the  Black  Mountains,  or  that  the  Turks 
had  been  unable  in  four  hundred  years  to  wrest  it  from  the  hardy 
mountaineers,  while  they  had  conquered  all  the  other  provinces  with 
the  exception  of  Dalmatia,  which  is  under  the  protection  of  Austria. 

Algernon  entered  at  once  into  an  animated  conversation  on  the 
subject  of  the  Turkish  principalities.  "  If  they  had  only  remained 
united,"  he  insisted,  "  these  provinces  of  Bosnia,  Herzegovina,  Dal- 
matia, and  Montenegro,  as  they  were  under  the  Romans,  they  might 
have  formed  a  powerful  nation,  which  could  have  easily  maintained 
itself  aofainst  the  Turks  on  the  one  hand  and  the  Russians  on  the 
other.  They  preferred  to  remain  distinct ;  Bosnia  ruled  by  kings, 
Herzegovina  by  dukes,  and  Montenegro  by  vladikas,  or  prince  bishops, 
until  1 85  I,  when  the  prince  gave  up  the  ecclesiastical  dignity." 

The  party  had  left  Lake  Scutari,  having  landed  at  the  little  town  of 
Riska,  where  they  were  to  engage  horses  to  take  them  to  Cettinje. 

Mr.  Norcross  reminded  Algernon  that  he  had  expressed  a  desire  to 
visit  the  monastery  of  Ostrog,  not   far  from   Rieka,  in  order  to  examine 


76 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


its  library,  and  Lord  Saunters  also  announced  that  he  would  like  to  see 
this  famous  old  monastery.  As  no  accommodations  could  probably  be 
obtained  at  the  convent  for  ladies,  Mr,  Norcross  proposed  to  obtain  a 
guide  at  Rieka,  and  to  escort  the  party  to  Cettinje,  leaving  Lord 
Saunters  and  Algernon  to  spend  the  night  at  Ostrog.  This  plan  did  not 
appear  to  suit  the  usually  acquiescent  Algernon. 

"I  think  I  had  better  go  on  with  mother,"  he  said.  "You,  Nor- 
cross, can  rummage  in  the  library  for  me,  and  make  notes  of  anything 
which  you  think  will  interest  me.  I  do  not  think  I  care  to  make  the 
acquaintance  of  those  musty  old  monks." 

It  was  accordingly  decided  that  Lord  Saunters  and  his  secretary 
should  remain  at  the  monastery  until  the  next  day,  and  the  rest  of  the 
party  proceeded  to  Cettinje. 

"  For  what  is  the  convent  so  celebrated  ?"  Sallie  asked  of  Algernon 
as  they  rode  side  by  side. 

"  It  was  a  seat  of  learning  in  the  Middle  Ages,"  the  young  man 
replied.  "In  1492  there  was  a  printing-press  established  here,  before 
the  art  of  printing  was  in  general  use  elsewhere.  The  press  was  used 
until  1852,  when,  during  a  Turkish  invasion,  the  types  were  melted  into 
bullets." 

Their  ponies  were  sure-footed  as  chamois,  and,  though  the  bridle- 
path was  execrable,  the  ride  was  not  so  dangerous  as  it  seemed. 

"  One  can  hardly  believe,"  said  Algernon,  "  that  this  is  the  main 
thoroughfare  to  the  capital.  Why  does  not  Prince  Nicholas  construct 
a  better  highway  ? " 

"The  answer  is  very  simple,"  replied  the  goldsmith.  "Prince 
Nicholas  is  not  so  disinterested  as  to  open  the  way  for  Turkish  artillery 
and  other  military  trains  into  his  country.  These  rocks  are  his  fortress, 
and  he  has  need  of  them,  for  yonder  is  a  Turkish  fort,  just  across  the 
border." 

Their  Montenegrin  guide,  who  trudged  sturdily  beside  their  horses, 
sneered  at  this  remark,  and,  laying  his  hand  upon  his  yataghan,  remarked, 


9^ 


">f    Pi„    "    "'""     "J    THt'    HOUSE   rr 


MONTENEGRIN    SCENES. 


MONTENEGRO. 

"  The  Turks  will  not  cross  the  frontier,  they  dare  not,  they  know  that 
we  would  be  only  too  glad  to  see  them." 

What  a  picturesque  fellow  this  mountaineer  was,  in  his  white  tunic 
embroidered  in  gold,  his  dark  blue  Turkish  trousers  laced  below  the 
knee  with  bright  braid,  a  round  cap  of  varied  colors,  and  his  belt  an 
entire  armory  of  pistols  and  daggers  !  Lady  Saunters  declared  that  he 
was  a  bandit  leading  them  away  to  a  mountain  fastness, 

"  If  that  is  the  case,"  said  Sallie,  "  I  shall  have  a  chance  to  sketch, 
for  I  have  brought  my  water-colors  with  me." 

"I  do  not  believe,"  said  Lady  Saunters,  "  that  any  one,  with  the 
exception  of  my  husband,  Algernon,  and  myself,  will  be  detained.  The 
only  object  of  these  brigands  is  ransom,  and  they  have  a  very  keen  eye 
as  to  where  it  can  be  obtained.  That  explains  the  safety  with  which 
Mr.  Osborne  can  travel  among  them:  he  has  nothing  for  them  to 
steal." 

"If  that  were  the  case,"  Gus  replied,  "why  didn't  they  rob  the 
jeweller  when  Lord  Saunters  was  shaved  ?  He  had  his  case  of  goods 
with  him,  and  they  knew  it;  and  there  was  that  Russian  gentleman, — 
he  had  a  very  wealthy  look.  I  believe  he  is  some  prince  travelling  for 
pleasure.  I  saw  a  jewelled  decoration  on  his  breast  when  his  overcoat 
was  thrown  back,  and  yet  none  of  Peco's  men  offered  to  molest  him. 
Besides,  they  didn't  rob  Lord  Saunters,  or  say  a  word  about  money,  and 
this  man  has  a  very  honest  look.  I  don't  think  we  need  be  afraid 
of  him." 

Just  as  Lady  Saunters's  fears  were  becoming  unappeasable,  the  little 
cavalcade  reached  Cettinje.  They  found  the  capital  of  Montenegro  a 
straggling  village  on  two  streets,  which  unite,  forming  a  letter  T.  The 
houses  were  small  white  cottages  for  the  most  part ;  while  the  govern- 
ment building,  containing  the  senate  chamber,  the  arsenal,  the  printing- 
office,  etc.,  was  of  very  modest  dimensions.  Prince  Nicholas's  palace 
was  a  plain,  one-story  edifice,  and  the  monastery  was  the  only 
picturesque  building  in  the  town. 


3o  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

Mr.  Osborne  domiciled  diem  in  a  pleasant  inn.  Algernon  joined 
them  at  table  after  a  short  tour  of  exploration  about  the  town. 

"  It  is  a  charming  place,  mother,"  he  remarked.  "Why  not  decide 
to  stay  here  for  a  week  ?  Osborne,  Evanova,  and  I  have  arranged  a 
horseback  trip.     We  start  to-night  and  may  not  return  for  a  day  or  two." 

He  spoke  cheerily,  —  almost,  Sallie  thought,  with  forced  gayet}'. 
Lady  Saunters,  without  noticing  this,  was  not  pleased. 

"  I  would  rather  you  would  put  off  this  trip,  Algernon,"  she  said, 
•'  until  your  father  returns.  I  do  not  think  that  he  would  approve  of 
your  leaving  Miss  Benton  and  me  with  no  protector.  Suppose  some- 
thing should  happen  —  that  the  Turks  should  fall  upon  this  town,  and 
Mr.  Norcross  away  too  ;  none  of  us  speak  Arabic  or  Hindoostanee,  or 
any  of  those  outlandish  tongues.  We  could  not  even  tell  them  that 
we  are  Eno-lish." 

A  shade  crossed  Algernon  Saunters's  face  ;  he  was  deeply  annoyed, 
but  he  concealed  his  vexation.  "  Master  Benton,  here,  is  studying 
Greek,"  he  said,  "and  Miss  Benton  speaks  French  perfectly  —  besides, 
dear  mother,  you  are  perfectly  safe  in  Cettinje.  I  am  quite  sure  that 
my  father  would  approve  of  my  plan." 

"  Say  no  more  about  it,  Algy,"  Lady  Saunters  replied,  i^i  the  same 
tone  in  which  she  had  been  accustomed  to  deny  him  sweets  when  he 
was  a  boy  in  knickerbockers.  "  I  really  cannot  spare  you  in  the  absence 
of  your  father.  You  will  make  me  very  wretched  if  you  persist  in  your 
self-will." 

"  You  are  quite  right.  Lady  Saunters,"  said  Mr.  Osborne.  "  Your 
son's  duty  at  this  time  is  at  your  side." 

Algernon  gave  him  a  strange  look,  and  seemed  about  to  speak ;  but 
as  his  mother  rose  from  the  table  he  offered  her  his  arm,  and  led  her 
dutifully  from  the  dining-room.  Sallie  was  about  to  follow,  but  Gus 
detained  her. 

"  You  will  let  me  go,  will  you  not,  Sallie  ?  You  won't  baby  me  the 
way  Lady  Saunters  does  that  great,  grown  man,  —  will  you,  dear?" 


MONTENEGRIN    SOLDIER. 


MONTENEGRO. 


83 


Sallle  glanced  inquiringly  at  Mr.  Osborne,  who  replied  quickly,  "  I 
can't  take  you  this  time,  Gus.  You  had  better  remain  with  your  sister. 
You  will  know  why  by  and  by."  His  tone  piqued  Sallie's  curiosity,  but 
she  made  no  inquiry.  Gus  strolled  out-of-doors,  and  she  was  mounting 
the  stairs  when  she  met  Alorernon  Saunters  cominof  down  in  haste. 
"Stop  a  moment,  Miss  Benton,"  he  said.  "  Has  Mr.  Osborne  gone? 
I  must  see  him." 

The  war  correspondent  came  forward  as  he  spoke,  "We  may  as 
well  take  Miss  Benton  into  our  confidence,"  said  Algernon.  "  I  cannot 
remain  behind,  I  must  go  with  you." 

"  Let  Miss  Benton  be  the  judge  of  that,"  replied  Mr.  Osborne. 
"The  matter  is,  that  I  hav2  just  learned  that  a  party  of  Montenegrins 
leave  Cettinje  this  evening  for  Rieka,  as  they  have  heard  that  a  night 
attack  has  been  planned  by  the  Turks  on  the  fortress-convent  of 
Ostrog.  I  have  thought  best  to  accompany  the  Montenegrins  to  look 
after  Lord  Saunters,  and  this  young  man  desires,  very  naturally  but  very 
foolishly,  to  accompany  me.  He  will  not  be  of  the  slightest  use,  and, 
on  the  other  hand,  may  be  needed  here.  It  is  not  necessary  to  alarm 
Lady  Saunters  by  putting  the  case  before  her ;  she  has  decided  it  very 
well  without  knowinof  all  the  interests  at  stake.  If  Lord  Saunters 
should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Turks,  his  son's  presence  would  be 
vitally  necessary  to  his  mother." 

"And,  on  the  other  hand,"  Algernon  broke  in  excitedly,  "you  can 
understand.  Miss  Benton,  that  no  one  with  the  feelings  of  a  man  could 
allow  a  rescuing  party  to  go  out  in  search  of  his  father  without 
accompanying   it." 

"I  understand,"  replied  Sallie,  "and  I  sympathize  with  you,  —  but 
do  you  really  promise  to  abide  by  my  decision  ?  " 

"  I  will,"  replied  Algernon,  "  for  I  am  so  torn  by  conflicting  opinions 
that  I  do  not  know  what  to  do." 

"  Are  you  certain,"  Sallie  asked  of  James  Osborne,  "  that  he  can  do 
no  good  by  accompanying  you  ?  " 


84 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


"  Absolutely  certain  of  it,"  the  correspondent  replied. 
"  Then,"  said  Sallie,"  I  think  your  duty  is  with  your  mother."     Alger- 
non turned  impatiently  on  his  heel,  and  strode  out  of  the  hotel.     James 

Osborne  smiled.  "  He  is 
not  over-polite,  Miss  Sal- 
lie,"  he  said,  "but  never 
mind,  you  have  advised 
him  rightly.  Do  not  worry 
about  us  unless  we  fail  to 
put  in  appearance  by  to- 
morrow evening,  in  which 
case  you  had  better  lay  the 
matter  before  Prince  Nich- 
olas." 

Sallie  was  intensely 
anxious,  but  she  succeeded 
in  disofuisine  her  feelings, 
and  in  giving  her  Ladyship 
a  pleasant  evening.  Lady 
Saunters  imagined  that  her 
son  had  given  up  his  ex- 
cursion entirely  out  of  def- 
erence to  her  authority, 
and  was  extremely  gra- 
cious. Algernon  was  un- 
usually silent,  but  as  they 
parted  for  the  night  he  con- 
trived to  say  to  Sallie,  '*  You  were  quite  right ;  pardon  my  boorishness." 
The  next  morning  they  spent  in  strolling  about  the  town,  and  in  the 
afternoon  Lady  Saunters  insisted  that  they  should  make  a  call  of  cere- 
mony upon  Princess  Milene.  They  were  surprised  to  find  here  the  Rus- 
sian gentleman  whom  Algernon  and  Gus  had  met  at  the  insurgent  camp. 


PRINCE    NICHOLAS. 


MONTENEGRO. 


85 


He  was  introduced  to  them  as  Mr.  Ignatieff,  and  it  was  explained 
that  he  was   in   no  way  related  to  the  prince  of  that  name,  but  was  a 
simple  editor  of  a  Moscow  journal.     Gus  could  not  help  thinkino-  diat 
he  did  not  look  at  all  like 
a  literary  man,  but  that  his 
bearing  was  decidedly  mil- 
itary.    There  was  no  stoop 
in  the  shoulders  to  betray 
bondage  to  the  desk,  but 
they  were  thrown  back  in 
a  way  that  told  of  habitual 
horseback  exercise. 

While  the  Russian  gen- 
tleman conversed  with  the 
Prince,  the  ladies  chatted 
with  the  Princess.  She 
had  a  gentle  manner,  but 
her  face  indicated  great 
firmness  and  intelligence, 
and  the  complicated  affairs 
of  the  little  country  had 
been  left  in  her  hands  and 
well  manao^ed  durincr  her 
husband's  absences  from 
Montenegro.  Lady  Saun- 
ters complimented  her 
on  the  admirable  finesse 
shown  by  the  Prince  in  not  allowing  himself  to  be  drawn  by  his  sub- 
jects into  a  declaration  of  war  with  Turkey. 

The  countenance  of  the  Princess  fell.  "If  you  knew  how  very  diffi- 
cult it  is  not  to  declare  war,"  she  said,  "  to  hold  back  our  high-spirited 
chiefs,  and  tamely  to  submit  to  the  degradation  of  looking  on  while  the 


PRINCESS    MILENE. 


86 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


Turks  are  butchering-  our  brethren !  Ah !  nothing  but  the  fact  that 
such  a  step  would  be  the  suicide  of  the  nation  keeps  him  in  this  atti- 
tude of  poHcy.  It  is  useless  for  Montenegro,  single-handed,  to  become 
the  champion  of  Christendom  as  long  as  such  powerful  nations  as 
England    and    Russia,   by  their  indifference,   encourage    the  Turks  to 

oppress,  rob,  and  maltreat  their  Christian  sub- 
jects in  every  conceivable  way." 

Mr.  Ignatieff  had  overheard  her  remark, 
for  he  turned  and  replied  in  a  low  voice, 
"  Russia  is  not  so  indifferent  as  you  think. 
I  have  heard  that  Prince  Milan  of  Servia  has 
entered  into  negotiations  with  the  Czar, 
which  may  lead  to  developments  which  will 
create  considerable  surprise  among  the  Great 
Powers." 

An  eager  light  came   into  the   Princess's 
eyes.      "  If  this  were  only  true  !  "  she  said. 
"  Madam  !  "    exclaimed     Lady     Saunters, 
"  you  surely  cannot  wish  to  see  this  peninsula  plunged  into  the  horrors 
of  war." 

"  A  disgraceful  and  criminal  peace  is  still  more  horrible,"  replied 
the  Princess. 

"  Milene ! "  said  the  Prince  warningly.  "  My  dear  madam,"  he 
continued,  addressing  Lady  Saunters,  "  be  assured  that  I  will  endeavor, 
so  far  as  lies  in  my  power,  to  maintain  the  peace  of  Europe  ;  but  I  am 
not  an  autocrat.  I  can  keep  the  nation  back  as  a  nation  from  declaring 
war  against  Turkey,  but  I  have  no  power  over  my  subjects  as  individ- 
uals ;  and  the  greater  part  of  our  fighting  force  is  now  in  Herzegovina, 
engaged,  every  man  on  his  own  responsibility,  in  fighting  the  Turks, 
who  in  their  turn  do  not  scruple  when  they  dare  to  make  raids  upon 
my  territory.  It  is  fortunate  for  your  husband,  madam,  that  I  was 
informed  of  their  intended  attack  on  Ostrog,  and  sent  out  a  force  to 
defend  the  fortress  yesterday." 


MR.   IGNATIEFF. 


MONTENEGRO. 


89 


It  was  the  first  intimation  that  Lady  Saunters  had  had  of  her 
husband's  danger,  and  she  was  much  alarmed.  The  Prince  re-assured 
her  partially  b)^  explaining  that  the  forces  must  have  arrived  at  Ostrog, 
and  the  Turks  have  been  informed  of  their  arrival  before  the  time  set 
for  the  attack. 

"  There  will  be  no  fighting,"  said  the  Prince.  "The  Turks  are  cowards. 
It  was  all  very'  well  to  massacre  a  few  defenceless  priests,  but  as  soon 
as  they  know  that  the  monks  are  not  the  only  men  in  the  convent,  the 
rich  plunder  in  Ostrog  will  not  seem  so  desirable." 

"  If  England  has  so  much  influence  in  Turkish  affairs,"  suggested 
Sallie,  "  why  does  she  not  restrain  Turkey  from  making  her  rule  in  her 
European  provinces  so  oppressive  ?  " 

"  England  doubtless  could  do  this  if  she  would,"  the  Prince 
replied. 

"  And  England  shall !  "  Algernon  Saunters  exclaimed  with  much 
warmth.  "  The  Sultan  shall  be  made  to  understand  that  the  great 
heart  of  the  English  people  will  not  allow  him  to  mismanage  his  afifairs 
and  bully  his  subjects  in  this  shameless  fashion.  I  had  no  idea  — 
English  people  generally  have  no  idea  —  of  the  extent  of  taxation 
and  oppression  which  you  have  just  explained  to  me.  I  intend  to 
investigate  the  matter  still  further,  and  devote  what  influence  I  possess 
to  insisting  on  a  speedy  reform." 

"  I  am  sure,"  murmured  Lady  Saunters,  "  that  my  husband  will 
report  what  we  have  heard,  on  our  return  to  England,  to  his  friend  Lord 
Beaconsfield.  I  have  no  doubt  everything  can  be  amicably  arranged 
if  Prince  Nicholas  can  maintain  his  admirable  peace  policy  a  little  longer, 
and  Prince  Milan  will  not  allow  Servia  to  rush  into  war  trusting  to  the 
deceitful  promises  of  support  from  wily  Russia." 

As  Lady  Saunters  said  this,  she  threw  a  glance  of  scorn  toward 
Mr.  Ignatieff,  who  maintained  an  inscrutable  expression  of  counte- 
nance. 

Lady  Saunters  returned  to  the  inn  secure  in  her  suprenie  confidence 


go  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 

\\\  Lord  Beaconsficld's  ability  to  regulate  the  affairs  of  Europe  by  his 
peace  policy ;  but  as  the  hours  dragged  slowly  by.  and  it  was  now  long 
past  the  time  that  Mr.  Osborne  had  said  they  might  be  expected, 
Algernon  became  intensely  anxious.  He  paced  the  veranda,  listening 
acutely  from  time  to  time  for  the  clatter  of  hoofs  which  should  proclaim 
the  safe  return  of  his  father  and  friends.  Sallie  sat  with  Lady  Saunters, 
and  listened  politely  to  her  gentle  flow  of  amiable  chat,  until  she  ended 
in  biddinor  her  a  calm  orood-nieht.  Alorernon  was  sittinp-  in  an  attitude  of 
dejection  on  the  veranda,  and  Sallie  stole  quietly  out  to  him.  She  pointed 
to  a  group  of  men  \vho  w^ere  standing  under  a  large  tree  in  the  centre 
of  the  village.  They  seemed  to  be  engaged  in  earnest  debate,  and 
Sallie  asked  if  this  was  not  the  tree  under  which  the  chiefs  were  accus- 
tomed to  hold  their  councils  of  war. 

The  council,  if  such  it  was,  broke  up  presently,  and  one  of  the  men, 
who  wore  a  long  red  cloak,  crossed  the  square,  and  entered  the  palace  ; 
and  Sallie  felt  sure  from  his  gait  that  it  was  Prince  Nicholas.  Another, 
whose  carriage  had  something  in  it  which  was  familiar,  approached  the 
inn.  and  Algernon,  w^ho  could  restrain  himself  no  longer,  asked  if  any 
news  had  been  received  from  Ostrog.  "  I  was  just  coming  to  inform 
you,"  replied  a  voice,  which  Sallie  recognized  as  that  of  Mr.  Ignatieff, 
"  that  a  courier  has  returned  from  Ostrog,  and  no  attack  has  been 
made.     Your  friends  are,  in  all  probability,  quite  safe." 

"Thank  you."  Algernon  replied  warmly,  "  and  yet  is  it  not  strange 
that  they  do  not  return  ?  " 

"They  may  be  waiting  for  an  escort;  and.  even  if  they  should  fall 
Into  the  hands  of  the  Turks,  Lord  Saunters,  as  an  Englishman,  would 
not  run  the  danger  which  a  man  of  another  nationality  —  a  Russian,  tor 
instance  —  might  encounter." 

"  Do  you  think  that  Mr.  Osborne  and  his  companion  would  be 
roughly  handled  if  captured  ?  " 

"I  would  not  like  to  be  in  their  shoes;  but  Mr.  Osborne  is  a 
representative    of   America,   and  a   non-combatant,  and  they  are  both 


MONTENEGRO.  g  j 

under  the  protection  of  Lord  Saunters.  Besides,  we  know  nothing-  to 
lead  us  to  suppose  that  they  have  been  captured.  It  is,  however,  no 
time  to  travel  in  European  lurkey,  and  I  would  advise  the  ladies 
especially  to  leave  the  country." 

"  Mr.  Ignatieff,"  asked  Sallie,  "  is  there  going  to  "be  a  general  war? 
I  have  particular  reasons  for  knowing,  and  I  believe  you  can  tell  me. 
Will  Russia  espouse  the  cause  of  the  Turkish  provinces  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  what  Russia  will  do  as  a  nation,  but  if 
the  Czar  does  not  take  a  stand  in  behalf  of  these  people,  who  belong  to 
the  same  great  Slavic  race  with  ourselves,  and  are  Christians  like  our- 
selves, I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  a  large  proportion  of  the 
Russian  officers  will  offer  their  services  to  Prince  Milan  of  Servia. 
However,  this  is  hardly  the  time  or  place  for  a  discussion  of  the  Eastern 
question.  Pray  be  assured  that  your  friends  are  in  no  immediate 
danger,  and  consider  me  entirely  at  your  service  should  you  have  need 
of  me  at  any  time." 

With  a  profound  bow  the  Russian  withdrew.  Algernon  drew  a  long 
breath  of  relief.  "  I  have  been  trying  to  think,"  he  said,  "  that  if  I 
have  suffered  so  much  mental  torture  from  the  thought  that  my  father, 
who  is  backed  by  the  English  nation,  may  be  in  the  power  of  the 
Turks,  what  must  be  the  condition  of  mind  of  these  poor  beggars  of 
Bulgarians." 

"  I  think  it  is  time  that  somebody  thought  about  them,"  Sallie 
replied  simply. 

"We  are  all  so  selfish,"  Algernon  replied  hotly,  "we  think  only  of 
what  concerns  ourselves." 

"That  is  putting  it  rather  strongly,"  said  Sallie.  "  Say  rather  that 
these  people  are  so  far  away  that  we  do  not  realize  their  troubles." 

She  turned  to  go  in,  but  he  called  to  her:  "  Miss  Benton,  I  want  to 
thank  you  now  while  I  have  the  opportunity." 

"  For  what  ?"  she  asked,  much  surprised. 

"  For  giving  me   an   object  of  interest.     You   have  waked  me  up, 


Q2  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

and  now  I  intend  to  look  after  these  poor  people  a  little.  Perhaps  I 
shall  be  able  to  do  something  for  them  ;  perhaps  in  striving  to  do  this 
1  shall  amount  to  something  myself.  If  I  do,  it  will  all  be  your  fault. 
Do  you  understand  ?  " 

"  No  ;  but  I  am  ver}'  glad.     Good-night." 


LORD  HAUNTERS  IS   TAKEN  PRISONER. 


93 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

LORD    SAUNTERS    IS   TAKEN    PRISONER. 

AFTER  leaving  their  friends,  Lord  Saunters  and  Mr.  Norcross  pro- 
ceeded in  the  direction  of  the  convent  of  Ostrog.  They  rode 
leisurely,  and,  as  it  was  still  early  in  the  afternoon,  they  turned  aside 
from  the  regular  route  to  explore  a  bridle-path  which  led  into  a  grove 
of  chestnuts.  They  had  not  ridden  far  when  two  men  sprang  from  the 
ground  and  seized  Lord  Saunters's  bridle,  while  another  dragged  Mr. 
Norcross  from  the  saddle.  It  needed  but  a  glance  at  their  captors  to 
tell  them  that  these  were  no  Montenegrins.  They  were  darker  and 
more  brutal  men,  and  they  wore  the  Zouave  costume. 

Lord  Saunters  knew  at  once  that  he  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
Mukhtar  Pacha's  advance-guard.  The  men  conversed  together  in  Turk- 
ish, while  his  Lordship  produced  his  passport,  and  protested  loudly  that 
he  was  an  Englishman.  Mr.  Norcross  aired  the  little  Turkish  which  he 
knew,  and  insisted  on  being  taken  to  their  commanding  officer. 

The  men  partly  understood  him,  and  evidently  regarded  him  of 
more  importance  than  his  Lordship,  whom  they  fastened  to  a  tree,  having 
first  emptied  his  pockets.  The  soldier  in  command  of  the  squad  took 
possession  of  these  effects,  and  informed  Mr.  Norcross  that  his  request 
was  about  to  be  granted,  and  that  he  was  to  be  taken  immediately  to 
headquarters.  After  a  little  further  parley,  he  persuaded  the  man 
to  allow  him  first  to  speak  with  Lord  Saunters,  and  to  give  him  the  use 
of  writing  materials.  "  I  will  do  the  best  I  can,"  he  assured  his  em- 
ployer, "  but  these  Turks  are  rapacious  creatures,  and  you  will  doubtless 
have  to  pay  a  heavy  ransom." 

His  Lordship,  thoroughly  terrified,  handed  Mr.  Norcross  his  letter  of 


94 


THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


credit,  and  made  out  a  blank  check  payable  at  Constantinople  to  the 
bearer.  "  Don't  peril  our  lives,  Norcross,  by  trying  to  save  me  money," 
he  said.  "  Fill  it  out  for  whatever  sum  the  bandits  demand,  and  get  us 
out  of  this  predicament  as  soon  as  possible." 

"Trust  to  me,"  the  secretary  replied,  and  at  the  time  he  had  no 
intention  of  proving  unfaithful.     He  was  escorted  through  the  wood, 

down  a  rocky  defile,  to  the  Turkish 
camp,  and  presented  at  once  to  the 
commander,  who  addressed  him  after 
examining  the  passport. 

"  I  understand,"  he  said,  "  that  we 
have  the  honor  of  holding  as  prisoners 
two  English  gentlemen  of  rank.  I  pre- 
sume that  I  address  the  son  of  Lord 
Saunters  ?  " 

It  was  a  characteristic  of  Mr.  Nor- 
cross that  he  did  not  scruple  at  a  false- 
hood ;  he  assumed  boldly  the  character 
assigned  him,  and  assured  the  general  that,  under  the  existing  friendly 
relations  between  their  governments,  he  was  at  a  loss  to  understand 
upon  what  pretext  two  English  noblemen  were  thus  detained.  The 
Turk  stroked  his  beard  softly,  and  looked  at  him  from  the  corners  of 
his  slant  eyes.  He  was  evidently  studying  his  man.  "  Tell  me,"  he 
said,  "  the  purpose  of  your  journey,  and  your  plans." 
Mr.  Norcross  mapped  out  their  proposed  route. 
"  All  this,  you  say,  is  for  pleasure,"  said  the  general.  "  Pleasure 
should  not  be  the  chief  object  in  life  of  a  young  man  like  yourself.  You 
should  have  a  career.  You  have  spoken  of  the  friendly  relations  exist- 
ing between  our  countries.  The  Sultan  recognizes  them,  and  is  willing 
to  assign  high  posts  in  our  army  and  navy  to  Englishmen  of  birth  and 
ability.  You  have  had  a  military  education.  How  would  you  like  to 
put  it  in  practice  ?     We  are  on  the  eve  of  a  war  of  more  importance 


A    TURKISH    COMMANDER. 


LORD  SAUNTERS  IS   TAKEN  PRISONER.  gj 

than  this  paltry  outbreak- — a  war  which  will  give  opportunities  of 
distinction  and  advancement.     Will  you  join  us  ?  " 

Mr.  Norcross  felt  that  he  was  completely  in  the  man's  power,  and 
he  answered,  with  many  protestations  of  delight  and  friendship,  that  a 
commission  in  the  Turkish  army  had  been  the  dream  of  his  youth.  He 
admitted,  however,  that  his  father  might  object  to  this  arrangement, 
and  that  it  was  not  at  all  convenient  for  him  to  remain  with  him  at 
present,  but  if  the  gentlemen  would  kindly  allow  him  to  depart,  and 
arrange  his  affairs,  he  would  give  his  word  of  honor  to  report  himself  at 
Constantinople  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  general  smiled  incredulously,  gave  him  another  sidelong 
glance,  and  then  turned  aside  to  receive  some  reports  which  had  just 
come. 

"  You  will  accompany  us  for  a  short  distance,"  he  said  finally,  to 
Mr.  Norcross.  "  I  have  just  learned  that  Ostrog  is  to  be  re-enforced  ; 
we  will  accordingly  fall  back.  Do  not  be  alarmed,  you  will  be  released 
in  a  few  days." 

All  that  night  the  division  was  on  the  march,  and  at  daybreak  it 
joined  the  main  army.  Here  Mr.  Norcross  found  Lord  Saunters,  who 
had  been  treated  much  more  roughly  than  himself.  After  a  short  interval 
of  rest,  the  tents  were  again  folded,  and  the  army  continued  its  retreat. 
Division  after  division  marched  away,  but  the  squad  who  guarded  the 
Englishmen  remained  in  their  places  until  an  orderly  rode  up,  and 
handed  Norcross  a  sealed  package.  "The  general  bids  me  say  to 
you,"  he  said  in  Turkish,  "  that,  if  you  hold  to  your  purpose  of  going 
to  Constantinople,  you  may  find  it  to  your  advantage  to  present  this  to 
the  Minister  of  War.     You  are  now  free  to  go  where  you  will." 

The  aid  galloped  away,  the  guards  cut  the  cords  which  bound  the 
prisoners,  and  hurriedly  fell  into  the  ranks  of  the  last  column,  and  they 
were  left  standing  by  the  side  of  the  road.  Mr.  Norcross  placed  the 
packet  carefully  in  his  breast-pocket,  and  turned  to  Lord  Saunters,  who 
was  nearly  exhausted  with  fright  and  fatigue. 


98 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


"  We  are  free,"  he  said,  "  and  we  had  best  make  our  way  to  Ostrog 
with  all  speed,  before  we  fall  into  the  hands  of  stragglers."  Not  exactly 
sure  of  their  way,  they  wandered  about  that  day  to  little  purpose  in  the 
mountains,  but  were  fortunate  enough  to  find  themselves  at  the  door 
of  a  hut  belonging  to  a  goat-herd,  where  they  received  food  and  shelter. 
Here  Lord  Saunters  took  heart  and  courage  a  little.  "  We  have 
had  a  wonderful  escape,"  he  said.  "  Why,  Norcross,  after  you  left 
me,  the  scouts  brought  in  another  prisoner,  a  Montenegrin,  and 
hanged  him  right  there  before  my  eyes.  I  suppose  I  owe  my  escape 
to  you.  How  much  did  you  have  to  pay  the  general  ?  I  shall 
not  grudge  a  thousand  pounds  if  we  only  get  safely  out  of  this 
beastly  country." 

The  Turkish  general  had  not  suggested  the  payment  of  ransom, 
and  Lord  Saunters's  draft  still  lay  in  his  own  pocket.  Very  subtly  the 
temptation  came  to  him  to  take  advantage  of  this  circumstance,  and  to 
trust  to  being  in  Constantinople  at  some  future  day  to  claim  the  money 
for  his  own  use.  He  replied  that  he  had  made  out  the  draft  for  tAvelve 
hundred  pounds,  quieting  his  uneasy  conscience  as  he  did  so  with  the 
reflection  that  the  money  was  not  yet  stolen,  and  that  he  need  not  take 
it  if  he  should  think  better  of  the  project.  Lord  Saunters  expressed 
himself  as  satisfied.  He  had  not  noticed  the  delivery  of  the  packet  to 
Mr.  Norcross  by  the  Turkish  aid,  and  his  only  feeling  was  one  of  pro- 
found gratitude  for  his  escape.  The  goat-herd  guided  them  in  the 
direction  of  Ostrog.  When  in  sight  of  the  convent,  they  were  again 
frightened  by  the  approach  of  a  small  company  of  horse,  and  gave 
themselves  up  for  lost  until  they  recognized  Mr.  Osborne  at  their  head, 
and  understood  that  this  was  a  party  which  had  come  out  in  search  ot 
them.  They  were  taken  to  the  convent,  kindly  cared  for  by  the  monks, 
and  the  next  morning  proceeded  to  Cettinje,  Lord  Saunters's  ideas  of 
the  Eastern  question  materially  changed  by  his  captivity.  He  had  seen 
such  acts  of  violence,  and  had  been  in  such  mortal  terror  and  danger, 
that  he  was  not  proud  of  England's  proteges.     He  had  an  interview 


LORD   SAUNTERS  IS   TAKEN  PRISONER. 


lOI 


with  Prince  Nicholas,  and  assured  SalHe  thereafter  that  his  opinion  in 
regard  to  the  Turks  had  greatly  altered. 

"They  are  too  blasted  insolent,  you  know,"  he  said,  as  they  left 
Cettinje  for  Cattaro.  "  The  Prince  tells  me  that  they  have  impoverished 
their  provinces  by  taxes  which  the  poor  people  haven't  the  money  to 
pay,  and  that  they  have  let  loose  upon  them  a  lot  of  Circassian  beggars, 
who  have  swarmed  over  Bulgaria,  driving  the  poor  Bulgarians  out  of 
their  homes,  and  occupying  them  with- 
out so  much  as  saying,  '  By  your  leave.' 
Then,  there  are  a  lot  of  other  grievances, 
of  which  Mr.  Evanova  tells  me,  enough 
to  convince  me  that  the  matter  ought  to 
be  looked  Into." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so, 
father,"  said  Algernon.  "  Mr.  Osborne 
has  invited  me  to  make  a  tour  with  him 
through  Bulgaria,  and  I  should  like  to 
avail  myself  of  this  opportunity." 

"That  is  hardly  practicable,  certainly 
not  just  now,"  replied  Lord  Saunters. 
"  You  know  we  have  made  an  appoint- 
ment to  meet  the    Prince  of  Wales    at 

Athens.  But  I  shall  certainly  run  up  to  Constantinople  after  our  inter- 
view with  the  Prince,  and  see  our  ambassador.  Sir  Henry  Elliot,  and 
sift  this  matter  thoroughly." 

Mr.  Norcross  looked  up  at  the  mention  of  Constantinople,  and 
seemed  about  to  speak.  He  evidently  thought  better  of  It  on 
consideration,  for  he  said  nothing. 

"If you  have  determined  to  go  to  Constantinople,"  suggested  Mr. 
Osborne,  "  and  Miss  Benton  and  her  brother  desire  to  visit  Miss  New- 
ton at  Samokov,  it  will  be  altogether  the  best  plan  for  them  to  travel 
with  you.     There  is  a  railroad  from  Constantinople  to  Philippopolis,  and 


MR.    NORCROSS    LOOKED    UP. 


I02  THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND    TURKEY. 

at  the  American  Mission  at  Constantinople  a  suitable  escort  can  be 
easily  obtained  to  the  mission  at  Samokov." 

Algernon  Saunters  brought  forward  a  convincing  argument  in 
the  suggestion  that  if  Miss  Benton  put  off  her  visit  to  her  mis- 
sionar}-  friend  until  after  seeing  the  Davenports,  Turkish  affairs 
might  become  so  complicated  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  her 
to  make  it  at  all. 

Every  one  united  in  urging  Sallie  to  continue  her  journey  with  the 
Saunterses,  and  she  finally  agreed  to  do  so,  wTiting  Melicent  that  she 
would  use  all  her  powers  of  persuasion  to  induce  Alice  to  leave  the 
countr}-  with  her,  and  that  her  visit  was  not  given  up,  but  simply 
postponed. 

From  Cettinje  the  party  proceeded  in  company  to  the  seaport  of 
Cattaro.  Their  first  glimpse  of  the  city  as  It  lay  beneath  them,  the  red 
roofs  and  white  walls  of  its  beautiful  villas  relieved  by  rich  foliage,  was 
one  of  enchanting  loveliness.- 

Here  they  bade  good-by  to  Mr.  Osborne  and  to  Mr.  Evanova. 
"  I  shall  hope  to  see  you  again  before  long  at  Samokov,"  said  the 
correspondent. 

"  And  in  the  mean  time  I  wish  you  would  send  letters  also  to  '  The 
London  Trimmer,'  "  said  Algernon  Saunters.  "  It  is  a  paper  w^hich 
always  sides  with  our  party,  and  it  has  taken  too  light  a  view  of  this 
business,     I  will  write  to  the  editor,  recommending  you." 

"  Should  you  see  Alice  before  I  do,"  was  Sallie's  last  word  at  part- 
ing, "  do  advise  her  for  the  best,  and  not  let  her  run  any  danger  by 
remaining  in  the  country  if  there  is  to  be  trouble." 

Trajan  Evanova  heard  this  message.  "  I  shall  also  see  Miss  Newton 
soon,"  he  remarked,  "  and  I  will  look  carefully  to  her  safety.  No  harm 
can  come  to  her  at  my  parents'  home  in  the  mountains,  and  that  is  open 
to  her  if  she  chooses  to  remain  in  Bulgaria  and  take  her  chances  with 
the  people  she  has  come  to  help." 

"  I  think  I  would  rather  she  would  leave  the  countr}',"  Sallie  replied. 


LORD   SAUNTERS  IS   TAKEN  PRISONER.  IO3 

"  But  I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  hospitable  offer.     We  will  decide 
when  I  visit  her  next  month." 

Thus  it  happened  that  Sallie's  plans  were  completely  changed,  and 
that,  instead  of  speeding  toward  Vienna,  to  the  friends  who  were  so 
impatiently  expecting  her,  this  beautiful  autumn  day  found  her  taking 
the  steamer  at  Cattaro  for  Athens,  via  the  Ionian  Isles. 


J04  THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND    TURKEY. 


A 


CHAPTER   IX. 


MELICENT   AND    CAPTAIN    MULLER. 


ND  all  this  time  what  of  Sallie's  good  knight  ? 


It  had  been  a  great  disappointment  to  Captain  Miiller  not  to 
find  Sallie  on  the  \  ienna  train.  How  eagerly  he  scanned  his  fellow- 
passengers  at  the  station,  and  when  the  train  stopped  he  walked  up  and 
down  the  platform  in  the  vain  hope  of  discovering  her  in  one  of  the 
compartments.  He  came  to  the  natural  conclusion  that  she  had  missed 
the  train,  and  he  determined  to  stop  at  Perchtoldsdorf  and  take  the  next 
express  for  Vienna,  sure  that  he  would  find  her  upon  it.  He  strolled 
into  the  old  church,  and  listened  to  its  history  of  blood  and  fire  :  for  it 
was  here  in  1683  that  the  citizens  took  refuge  from  the  Turks,  and  from 
the  church,  having  been  promised  mercy,  they  marched  out  to  a  fright- 
ful massacre,  over  thirty-eight  hundred  butchered  in  cold  blood.  He 
grew  angry  as  he  listened,  and  on  his  way  to  the  station  he  purchased 
a  paper  in  which  he  read  of  the  probability  that  such  scenes  were  soon 
to  be  repeated. 

"  I  wish  Germany  would  take  a  hand  in  driving  the  Turks  into 
Asia,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  should  like  to  enlist  for  such  a  crusade." 
And  then  he  thought  of  Sallie  and  her  fixed  disapprobation  of  war. 
"  I  wonder  how  she  thinks  those  fellows  are  to  be  managed,  anywa\'," 
he  thought,  and  then  the  train  came  in,  and  he  began  another  fruitless 
search  for  Sallie,  and  finally  sprang  on  board,  much  dejected  by  her 
absence.  So  confident  had  he  been  of  finding  her  that  he  had  not 
asked  the  address  of  her  friends,  Mrs.  and  Miss  Davenport.  He 
reflected,  however,  that  they  could  easily  be  found  through   the   police, 


MELICENT  AND    CAPTAIN  MULLER. 


107 


and,  before  going  to  his  hotel,  he  left  an  inquiry  at  the  proper  office,  a 
natural  enough  proceeding  on  his  part,  but  one  which  was  destined  to 
give  the  ladies  some  annoyance  in  future, 

A  Russian  detective  happened  to  be  at  the  bureau.     He  had  come 
to  Vienna  to  trace  a  Nihilist,  Natocha  Melniketzky.     There  was  some- 
thing in  the  description  which  Captain  Miiller  gave  of  Melicent  Davenport 
which    attracted    his    attention.      "  Meli- 
cent,—  Melniketz !  "    he     murmured    to 
himself,    "  the    disguise    is    very    thin !  " 
and   his    beads    of    eyes    twinkled    with 
malicious    exultation.     The    captain    no- 
ticed him  only  as  an  unusually  homely 
man,    with     phenotnenally    large     ears. 
Later  on,  the  Davenports  were  to  have 
the  honor  of  a  more  intimate  acquaintance. 

As  far  as  concerned  the  captain's  im- 
mediate purpose,  interviewing  the  police 
was  the  best  thino-  which  he  could  have 
done,  and  an  official  speedily  sent  him 
the  address  for  which  he  was  in  search. 

The  Davenports  had  not  yet  received 
Sallie's  letter  explaining  her  change  of  plans,   and  were  consequently 
in  daily  expectation  of  her  arrival. 

Captain  Miiller  was  much  cheered,  and,  to  pass  away  the  intervening 
time,  proposed  an  excursion  to  the  chateaic  of  Eisgrub,  the  most  beauti- 
ful of  the  ninety-nine  different  residences  of  Prince  Lichtenstein. 

The  day  was  a  charming  one.  and  they  spent  it  in  rambling  through 
the  great  orangery  and  the  hot-houses  with  their  nine  hundred  orange- 
trees  and  their  fifteen  hundred  aloes,  and  about  the  superb  park,  said  to 
be  the  finest  in  Austria,  coming  upon  many  surprises  in  landscape- 
gardening  and  picturesque  buildings :  a  mosque  with  minarets,  a 
pagoda,  an  artificial  ruined  castle,  a  fisherman's  cottage,  Greek  temples 


A    RUSSIAN    POLICE    AGENT. 


I08  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

and  statues,  triumphal  arches,  an  aviary  and  a  menagerie,  lakes  with 
boats,  parterres  of  brilliant  flowers,  and  beautiful  views. 

Mrs.  Davenport  rested  in  a  little  temple  to  the  Muses  while  Melicent 
and  the  captain  visited  the  dairy ;  and  neither  of  them  could  have  told, 


CASTLE    OF    EISGRUB. 


on  their  return,  whether  the  Prince  von  Lichtenstein  preferred  Jerseys 
to  Devons,  for  the  captain  embraced  the  opportunit)'  to  unburden  his 
heart  and  seek  Melicent's  sympathy  and  advice.  He  was  sure  of  both, 
for  had  she  not  sheltered  and  protected  him  when  he  was  a  spy  in  Paris  ? 
And  where  is  the  generous-hearted  girl  who  does  not  take  an  interest  in 


MELICENT  AND    CAPTAIN  MULLER. 


109 


a  friend's  love-affair,  especially  when  she  is  herself  happily  betrothed ! 
Melicent  thoroughly  appreciated  the  blessedness  which  had  come  into 
her  own  life  with  the  devotion  of  James  Osborne,  and  she  could  not 
understand  how  any  woman  could  be  content  without  just  such  a  true 
and  noble  affection.  She  was,  therefore,  delighted  to  hear  the  captain 
confess  his  interest  in  Sallie. 

"  I  am  sure  she  loves  you  !  "  she  exclaimed  impulsively,  and  then, 
realizing  from  the  great  light  in  the  captain's  face  that  she  was  encour- 
aging him  far  more  than  she  had  any  warrant  to  do,  she  modified  her 
assertion:  "That  is,  I  am  sure  she  will  love 
you.  She  always  took  a  v&cy  great  interest 
in  you,  in  those  old  days  in  France.  Why 
didn't  you  propose  to  her  at  Versailles  ?  " 

"  I  did." 

"  And  she  rejected  you  ?  "  —  Melicent 
looked  aghast.     "  Did  she  give  any  reason  ?  " 

"  She  said  she  could  never  marry  a 
soldier." 

"  I  don't  wonder,  after  all  the  horrible 
things  she  had  seen.  And  didn't  you  love 
her  enough  to  change  your  profession  ? " 

"I  did  not  think  that  I  did.     I  did  not 
know  then  how  much  I  loved  her ;  besides,  there  was  nothing  else  for 
me  to  do.     But  now  "  — 

"  Now  you  are  willing  to  give  up  the  army?" 

"And  now  perhaps  it  is  too  late." 

"Oh,  I  think  not!  Sallie  is  not  engaged  to  anyone  else,  or  she 
would  have  told  me.  I  believe  she  has  waited  for  you  all  this  time. 
She  would  have  married  long  ago  if  she  had  not  cared  for  some  one. 
She  is  a  very  attractive  girl,  you  know." 

"  I  know  it,"  with  a  groan. 

"Well,  she  has  come  to  Europe  again,  and  you  have  another 
opportunity." 


MELICENT. 


1  lO 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


"Do  you  think  so?"  exclaimed  the  captain,  deHghted  ;  and  he 
took  IMeHcent's  hand,  and  pressed  it  with  such  enthusiasm  that  some 
people  who  were  passing  remarked  that  it  was  evident  those  young 
persons  must  be  very  much  in  love  with  one  another. 

Captain  MUller  lived  on  the  hope  which  Melicent  extended  to  him 
for  several  days.     He  was   placidly  blissful,   until   the   arrival   of  the 


THE    DANUBE    AT    LINZ. 


letter  w^hich  announced  Sallie's  intention  of  visiting  Alice  before  joining 
the  Davenports.  This  plunged  him  into  an  abyss  of  despair.  "This 
does  not  look  much  as  if  she  had  come  to  Europe  to  give  me  a  second 
opportunity,"  he  said  gloomily. 

Melicent  looked  at  him  in  surprise  and  indignation.  "  I  never  said 
that ! "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  said  she  had  come,  and  you  have  your 
opportunit}',  —  if  you  have  pluck  enough  to  make  it,  I  meant.  Such  a 
girl  as  Sallie  must  be  sought.      But  it  is  all  right :  you  will  have  time  to 


MELICENT  AND    CAPTAIN  MULLER.  j  j  ^ 

get  your  discharge  from  the  army.  Mamma  and  I  intend  to  spend  the 
winter  in  St.  Petersburg,  where  I  am  to  study  medicine.  I  do  not 
know  how  much  I  shall  practise  it  in  after-life,  but  if  war  breaks  out 
anywhere,  mamma  and  I  will  join  the  Red  Cross.  Now,  Sallie  says  she 
intends  to  stay  with  Alice  only  long  enough  to  induce  her  to  leave  the 
country,  and  that  then  she  will  bring  her  to  us.  So  you  have  only  to 
break  your  connection  with  the  German  army,  and  repair  to  your  sister's 
at  St.  Petersburg,  and  you  will  find  Sallie  with  us,  and  all  will  be  well." 

"  And,  after  I  have  thrown  up  my  career,  what  if  I  find  that  it  is  all 
a  mistake,  and  she  does  not  care  for  me  ? " 

"  If  you  are  so  coldly  calculating  as  all  that,  it  might  be  safer  to 
write  her  first,  and  bargain  about  it :  your  epaulets  for  her  heart ;  but 
if  I  were  Sallie,  I  should  feel  much  more  complimented  to  feel  that  you 
had  risked  everything,  '  to  win  or  lose  it  all.' " 

Shortly  after  this,  Mrs.  Davenport  and  Melicent  removed  their  resi- 
dence to  St.  Petersburg.  Captain  MUller  accompanied  them  on  their 
journey  as  far  as  Linz,  for  Mrs.  Davenport  had  chosen  a  slightly  circui- 
tous route,  in  order  that  they  might  enjoy  the  views  on  the  noblest  part 
of  the  Danube. 

As  the  steamer  ploughed  its  way  up  the  river  in  the  moonlight  of  a 
superb  night,  a  string-band  in  the  saloon  played  the  Landler's  Waltz, 
and  Melicent  sang  softly  a  well-worn  song,  which  somehow  lost  all  its 
association  with  itinerant  musicians,  and  although  it  was  October,  and 
not  June,  seemed  very  appropriate  to  that  perfect  night:  — 

"  Can  I  forget  that  night  in  June 

Upon  the  Danube  River? 
We  listened  to  the  Landler's  tune, 

And  watched  the  moonbeams  quiver. 
I  oft  since  then  have  watched  the  moon, 

But  never,  love,  ah,  never,  never 
Can  I  forget  that  night  in  June 

Upon  the  Danube  River,"  etc. 


112  THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND    TURKEY. 

"  The  boat  kept  measure  with  its  oars ; 

The  music  rose  in  snatches 
From  peasants  dancing  on  the  shores 

In  distant  songs  and  catches. 
I  know  not  why  that  Landler  rang 

Through  all  my  soul,  but  never 
Can  I  forget  that  night  in  June 

Upon  the  Danube  River,"  etc. 

There  was  another  song  which  had  pleasant  associations  for  Captain 
Miiller,  —  a  Httle  folk-melody,  with  the  refrain,  — 

"  When  I  come,  when  I  come,  when  I  come  to  thee  again." 

And  now  the  Landler's  took  its  place  beside  it. 

At  Linz  the  captain  bade  farewell  to  the  Davenports,  and  returned 
to  his  home,  to  write  the  letter  which  was  to  disturb  the  even  current 
of  Sallie's  life,  while  Mrs.  Davenport  and  Melicent  turned  their  faces 
northward.  There  was  a  sharp  little  man,  with  a  wrinkled  face  and 
large  ears,  who  looked  over  Melicent's  shoulder  as  she  bought  the 
tickets.  His  keen  eye  caught  the  destination,  St.  Petersburg.  "  Ah- 
ha !  "  he  said  to  himself,  "  it  was  very  'cute  in  you  to  take  this  round- 
about way.  No  one  less  up  to  your  tricks  than  I  would  have  imagined, 
when  you  left  Vienna  for  Linz,  that  you  were  going  to  Russia ;  but  I 
am  on  your  track,  my  beauty,  I  am  on  your  track.  You  are  so  fond  ot 
travelling,  I  wonder  now  how  you  would  like  to  take  a  trip  to  Siberia?" 


GREECE. 


113 


CHAPTER   X. 


GREECE. 

LD  friends  are  best,"  Lord  Saunters 
happened  to  remark  carelessly, 
one  day.  Sallie  had  not  forgotten 
her  old  friend.  The  effort  to  put 
Captain  Miiller  entirely  from  her  thoughts  was 
more  than  even  her  resolute  will  could  accom- 
plish. But  she  never  faltered :  she  never  spoke 
of  him,  or  drooped  or  languished  after  the 
approved  fashion  of  love-lorn  maidens.  She 
interested  herself  in  the  absorbing  questions  of 
the  day,  and  grew  more  and  more  absorbed  in 
the  problem  of  Turkish  occupation  of  the  Euro- 
pean provinces.  She  talked  over  the  matter 
a  great  deal  with  Algernon  Saunters,  and  in- 
vented many  peaceful  solutions  of  the  difficulty,  whose  adoption,  he  said, 
would  have  done  honor  to  a  council  of  nations,  and  he  regretted  sin- 
cerely that  there  was  no  probability  of  an  advance  of  civilization  during 
their  lifetime  sufficient  to  carry  them  out.  They  read  a  great  deal  of 
Oriental  literature  together,  Mr.  Norcross  joining  them  in  this  recrea- 
tion, for  he  had  a  very  clever  trick  of  turning  Persian  sonnets  into 
English  verse.  "  Norcross,  you  should  have  been  an  Oriental,"  Alger- 
non said  one  day,  "  you  are  so  thoroughly  steeped  with  their  spirit. 
Give  us  aofain  the  war-sonor  of  the  Ottomans." 

"  It  is  not  my  own  translation,"  Mr.  Norcross  replied  ;  "  it  was  ren- 
dered into  English  by  a  Mr.  Homes,  a  compatriot  of  yours.  Miss 
Benton."     As    Mr.    Norcross    repeated    the   vehement    lines,  a   fierce, 


I  14  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

untamed  spirit  seemed  to  glow  in  his  eyes,  and  the  Hsteners  knew  that 
for  the  moment  he  made  the  sentiment  his  own. 

" '  All  our  hopes  and  cares  are  for  our  country  ; 
With  our  own  bodies  will  we  form  her  ramparts. 
We  are  Ottomans  !     A  bloody  shroud 
Shall  be  our  robe  of  glory. 
Refrain  :  We  march  our  every  step  in  battle, 

Shouting  the  profession  of  our  faith.-' 

We  are  Ottomans  !     We  sacrifice  our  lives, 

And  we  secure  Paradise  and  glory. 

On  our  waving  standard  see  the  bloody  sword  ! 
Soul-fear  enters  not  our  mountains  or  our  plains ; 
In  every  hill  and  vale  a  lion  crouches, 
Watching  over  every  acre  of  our  soil. 
Refrain  :  We  march  our  every  step,  etc. 

Let  the  cannon  roar.     Let  the  iron  hail 
Open  the  gates  of  Paradise  to  our  brave  comrades. 
What  have  we  found  in  this  world 
That  we  should  fear  to  die  t 
Refrain  :  We  march  our  every  step  in  battle,'  "  etc. 

"  Is  it  not  grand  ?  "  Algernon  asked. 

"  It  seems  unutterably  sad  to  me,"  Sallie  replied,  "  that  last  line, 
'  What  have  we  found  in  this  world,'  with  its  implication  that  we  have 
found  nothingf  for  which  we  care  to  live.     No  Christian  could  feel  so." 

"The    utter    hopelessness    of  Orientalism    has    often    struck    me," 

Algernon   replied.     "  Do  you  remember  how  Omar  Khayyam   speaks 

of  life  ? 

" '  'Tis  but  a  tent,  where  takes  his  one  day's  rest 
A  sultan  to  the  realm  of  Death  addrest. 
The  sultan  rises,  and  the  ^■:vl\^  fat-ash 
Strikes,  and  prepares  it  for  another  guest. 
A  moment's  halt,  a  momentary  taste 
Of  being  from  the  well  amid  the  waste. 
And  lo  !  the  phantom  caravan  has  reached 
The  nothing  it  set  out  from.     Oh,  make  haste  ! ' " 

1  La  Allah   ill  allah  ne  Mohammed  ressoiil  Allah.  —  "No  god  but  God,   Mohammed  prophet  of 
God."  — From  "  The  Gospel  in  all  Lands." 


GREECE.  J  J  c 

"I  see  the  necessity  of  making  haste,"  said  SalHe ;  "but  I  take 
exception  to  the  assertion  that  everything  begins  and  ends  in  nothing." 

"  It  seems  very  hkely  to  me,"  repHed  Mr.  Norcross,  "  and  I  object 
most  decidedly  to  making  haste.  I  would  rather  drift  forever  with  the 
tide,  as  we  seem  to  be  doing  to-day,  careless  whither  it  leads  me." 

October's  perfect  weather  calmed  the  sea  to  glass  as  the  steamer 
left  the  Adriatic,  and  skirted  the  western  coast  of  Albania  and  Greece. 

''The  Albanians  are  many  of  them  Mussulmans,  are  they  not?" 
Gus  asked. 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  Sallie  replied.  "  Do  you  not  remember  Lord 
Byron's  lines  ? 

"  '  Land  of  Albania  !  let  me  bend  mine  eyes 
On  thee,  thou  rugged  nurse  of  savage  men  ! 
The  Cross  descends,  thy  minarets  arise, 

And  the  pale  C^'escent  sparkles  in  the  glen.'  " 

"The  Suliotes  live  just  over  there,"  said  Lord  Saunters.  "When  I 
was  a  young  man,  I  thought  there  was  no  martial  poetry  so  stirring  as 
Byron's  '  Song  of  the  Suliote,'  and,  really,  it  is  quite  appropriate  to-day. 

"  '  Oh,  who  is  more  brave  than  a  dark  Suliote, 
In  his  snowy  camis  and  his  shaggy  capote  ? 
To  the  wolf  and  the  vulture  he  leaves  his  wild  flock, 
And  descends  to  the  plani,  like  the  stream  from  the  rock. 

I  talk  not  of  mercy  ;   I  talk  not  of  fear : 
He  neither  must  know  who  would  serve  the  Vizier. 
Since  the  days  of  the  Prophet  the  Crescent  ne'er  saw 
A  chief  ever  glorious  like  Ali  Pashaw. 

Dark  Mukhtar,  his  son,  to  the  Danube  is  sped  ; 
Let  the  yellow-haired  Giaours  ^  view  his  horse-tail  with  dread. 
When  his  Delhis  come  dashing  in  blood  o'er  the  banks. 
How  few  shall  escape  from  the  Muscovite  ranks  ! '  " 

On  they  glided  past  the  beautiful  Ionian  Isles.  One  by  one  they 
sighted    Corfu,   Santa   Maura,    Ithaca,   and   Cephalonia.     The   steamer 

'  Russian  infidels. 


ii6 


THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


Stopped  at  Patras,  but  did  not  enter  the  Gulf  of  Corinth,  much  to  the 
disappointment  of  the  young  people,  who  had  hoped  to  visit  the  ruins 
of  that  once  beautiful  and  pleasure-loving-  city. 

*'  There  is  very  little  left  to  interest  you," 
Lord  Saunters  assured  them. 

"  I  should  like  to  find  and  sketch  there  just 
one  Corinthian  capital,"  Sallie  said.  "That 
is  such  a  beautiful  legend  of  how  the 
Greek  architect  found  the  acanthus  springing 
through  the  basket,  its  graceful  leaves,  re- 
pressed by  the  tile  on  the  top,  curling  down- 
ward, and  so  suggesting  to  him  the  idea  of 
the  most  beautiful  of  the  architectural  orders." 
"  I  doubt,"  replied  Lord  Saunters,  "whether 
there  is  a  single  Corinthian  capital  left  in 
Corinth.  I  believe  there  are  seven  Doric 
pillars,  however." 

"  Now,  what  I  would  like,"  said  Gus, 
"would  be  to  explore  the  old  race-course, 
the  site  of  the  famous  Isthmian  games.  I 
would  not  ask  to  pick  up  any  columns  or  capitals  —  a  horseshoe  would 
suit  me,  and  would  make  a  very  good  relic." 

"  You  can  visit  Corinth  very  easily  from  Athens,  if  you  like,"  Lord 
Saunters  explained.  "  A  steamer  runs  down  from  the  Piraeus  to 
Kalamaki  in  about  three  hours,  then  you  can  take  a  carriage  to  the 
Acro-Corinthus,  the  old  citadel,  from  which  one  of  the  finest  views  in 
all  Greece  is  obtainable,  and  return  to  Athens  the  same  day." 

"  I  have  always  thought  of  Corinth  as  being  on  the  west  coast  of 
Greece,"  Gus  remarked  ;  "  but  of  course  the  isthmus  is  so  narrow  that 
she  had  the  advantage  of  traffic  on  both  seas." 

"  Lechaeum  was  the  ancient  port  on  the  west,  and  Kenchrea  to  the 
east,"  replied   Lord   Saunters.     "  The  best  way  to  visit   the   coast  of 


IONIC    AND    CORINTHIAN 
COLUMNS. 


GREECE. 


117 


SPORTS    OF     AN- 
CIENT GREECE. 


-yyf'^^^f—^-^Z^ 


Greece   is   in    one's    own   private  yacht ;    then   one    can   go   where   he 

pleases,   and  stay  as  long    as  the  fancy  takes  him,   and  he   is  always 

sure  of  having  good   accommodations   for 

the  nieht.      I   think   I  shall   make    such    a 

trip  one  of  these   days,  and   if  you  young 

people  are  on  the  Continent,  I  invite  you  to 

accompany  us.     Would  you  like  to  do  so  ?  " 

"  Just  wouldn't  I  !  "  exclaimed  Gus, 
while  Sallie  expressed  her  appreciation 
more  gracefully. 

"  Then,"  said  Lord  Saunters,  "  we  must  plan  for  it  for 
another  summer.  Ithaca,  over  there,  is  said  to  be  quite 
interesting.  They  show  you  the  castle  of  Ulysses,  where 
Penelope  waited  during  her  husband's  absence.  Read 
the  '  Odyssey '  this  winter,  for  it  is  the  best  guide-book  to  the  island. 
In  Byron's  time,  and  a  little  later,  it  used  to  be  quite  the  fashionable 
thing  for  Englishmen  to  do  the  Isles  of  Greece.  Lord  Houghton  has 
written  some  clever  poems  on  them.  But,  w^ith  all  their  charms,  Eng- 
land has  little  cause  to  love  this  insignificant  chain  of  islands.  They 
have  changed  owners  oftener  and  caused  their  masters  more  vexation 
than  any  bit  of  country  of  the  same  area  in  Europe." 

Gus  pricked  up  his  ears,  and  his  Lordship  continued. 

"In  1797  the  Venetians  gave  up  their  possession  of  them  to 
France.  Then  Russia,  Turkey,  France,  and  Great  Britain  each  took  a 
turn  in  owning  them,  and  in  snatching  them  from  one  another,  until 
18 1 5,  when  they  were  formed  into  a  republic,  under  the  protection  of 
Great  Britain.  We  did  everything  we  could  for  the  improvement  of  the 
country  —  laid  out  a  hundred  thousand  pounds  -per  anmini  upon  it. 
But  the  ungrateful  islanders  wanted  none  of  our  protection,  and  were 
continually  giving  us  all  the  trouble  they  could.  In  1858  Mr.  Glad- 
stone was  sent  out  to  see  what  was  the  cause  of  all  this  row,  and  he 
soon    ascertained   that   nothing  would   suit  the  beggars  but  complete 


jjg  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

independence  from  Great  Britain,  and  annexation  to  Greece.  In  1863 
the  election  of  the  son  of  the  King  of  Denmark,  the  brother  of  Alex- 
andra, as  King  of  Greece,  under  the  name  of  George  I.,  gave  England 
a  chance  to  get  rid  of  her  unprofitable  possessions,  and  they  were 
turned  over  to  Greece  as  a  sort  of  good-will 
offering,  wedding  present,  or  that  sort  of 
thing,  in  1864." 

"  Eneland's  colonies  do  not  seem  to  have 
generally  appreciated  her  efforts  in  their  be- 
half," Gus  remarked  dryly. 

"  And  yet,"  Sallie  added  quickly, 
"  there  is  no  question  but  that 
wherever  her  flao-  has  waved  civili- 
zation  has  followed." 

Every  headland  and  island,  ever}- 
port  or  distant  mountain,  which  they 
now  passed  bore  some  classic  name.  penelope. 

As  they  rounded  the  rugged  points 

of  Peloponnesus,  they  recalled  the  wanderings  of  Ulysses,   while   his 
faithful  Penelope  worked  in  Ithaca  at  her  tapestry. 

And  now  they  were  nearing  the  Cyclades,  or  ch'cling  islands,  so 
named  because  they  were  supposed  to  have  circled  around  Delos, 
where  Diana  and  Apollo  w^ere  born.  And  now  they  have  passed  Milo, 
where  the  most  beautiful  and  noblest  of  the  statues  of  Venus  was 
discovered  ;  and  at  last  they  have  reached  Poros,  the  naval  station  of 
the  kingdom,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Gulf  of  /Egina. 

All  the  way  they  have  been  passing  and  meeting  flocks  of  sailing- 
vessels  and  small  steamers,  the  merchant  marine  of  Greece,  plying 
between  the  islands  and  the  principal  cities  of  not  only  the  Mediterra- 
nean, but  of  Western  Europe.  Here  they  pass  a  ship  bearing  the 
Russian  flag,  laden  with  Vino  Santo,  or  Santorin,  which  the  Russians 
love  so  well,  from  the  volcanic  island  of  Thera ;  here  is  Malmsey  for 


GREECE. 


119 


England,  from  Tenos  ;  marble  chimney-pieces,  and  other  carvings,  on 
their  way  to  France  ;  with  Zante  currants,  honey  from  Hymettus,  olive- 
oil,  figs,  silk,  and  sponges,  for  Leghorn,  Trieste,  Palermo,  Smyrna,  and 
Constantinople. 

Gus  had  been  so  much  impressed  by  all  this  display  of  shipping 
that  he  had  expected  to  see  a  considerable  navy,  and  was  much  sur- 
prised when  told  that  nearly  all  the  men-of- 
war  in  the  harbor  were  English  ships,  which 
had  o-athered  to  g-reet  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
the  navy  of  Greece  consisting  only  of  one 
ironclad,  six  screw-steamers,  four  schooners, 
two  cutters,  and  the  royal  yacht. 

"Why,  it  is  almost  as  bad,"  the  boy  ex- 
claimed, "  as  our  American  navy  !  " 

"  I  am  proud  of  the  fact  that  our  navy 
is  so  insignificant !  "  Sallie  exclaimed.  "  It 
proves  that  the  United  States  has  the  respect 
of  the  other  powers,  and  does  not  need  to 
bully  them." 

At  the  Piraeus,  the  port  of  Athens,  they  saw 
the  Serapis,  which  had  just  arrived  with  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  and  witnessed  his  meeting  with 

the  King  of  Greece,  who  came  alongside  in  his  royal  yacht.  They  had 
the  further  honor  of  proceeding  to  Athens  by  the  same  train  with  their 
Royal  Highnesses,  and,  as  Lord  and  Lady  Saunters  were  acquainted 
with  the  Prince,  Sallie  was  presented  in  her  simple  gray  travelling-dress. 

The  Prince  greeted  Algernon  Saunters  most  cordially,  and  repeated 
the  invitation  which  had  already  been  extended,  to  accompany  him  to 
India. 

Algernon,  while  making  suitable  acknowledgments  for  the  favor 
shown,  feared  that  it  would  not  be  possible  to  accept ;  but  Lord 
Saunters  drowned   his   son's  remonstrance  with  effusive  and  grateful 


IN    DOUBT. 


I20  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

acquiescence.  "  What  do  you  mean,  sir,  "  he  asked  his  son,  a  few 
hours  later,  "  by  cutting  yourself  out  of  such  a  magnificent  oppor- 
tunity ?  Have  you  forgotten  that  this  is  precisely  the  object  for  which 
we  have  made  this  journey?  Have  you  forgotten  that  you  are  a  second 
son,  and  have  your  career  to  make  ?  " 

"  I  might  join  the  Prince  at  Bombay,  if  you  insist  upon  it,"  Alger- 
non replied  ;  "  but  I  would  really  very  much  like  to  accompany  you  to 
Constantinople.  I  am  so  much  interested  in  this  question  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  Turkish  principalities  !  " 

"  Stuff  and  nonsense  !  "  replied  Lord  Saunters  irascibly.  "  I  will 
look  into  the  matter  as  far  as  is  necessary,  though  I  assure  you  that  my 
main  object  in  visiting  Constantinople  is  to  forbid  payment  on  that 
check  which  was  extorted  from  me  under  circumstances  which  amount 
to  simple  theft.  It  is  all  very  well  to  have  exalted  ideas  of  humanity, 
and  all  that,  but  one  must  look  after  one's  own  interests  as  well.  Go 
out  with  the  Prince,  and,  if  you  have  a  fancy  for  taking  a  tour  through 
Turkey,  do  so  on  your  way  home." 

"Give  me  two  days  to  consider  the  matter,"  Algernon  replied,  with 
a  grave  and  troubled  expression. 

A  few  hours  more,  and  the  party  were  domiciled  at  the  Hotel 
dAngleterre,  in  Athens.  Modern  Athens  is  not  in  itself  a  picturesque 
city,  but  the  Acropolis  still  towers  above  it,  crowned  by  its  magnificent 
ruins,  chief  of  which  is  the  Parthenon. 

Gus  had  been  "cramming"  Fergusson's  admirable  work  on  archi- 
tecture during  the  voyage,  and  he  had  learned  that  the  Parthenon  is 
built  entirely  of  white  marble,  and  is  the  finest  example  of  the  Doric 
style  extant.  That  it  was  designed  for  the  place  which  it  occupies  in 
so  skilful  a  manner  that,  while  the  lines  of  the  pillars  appear  perfectly 
straight,  to  obtain  this  effect  they  are  in  reality  constructed  in  accurate 
curves  to  counteract  the  illusions  of  perspective. 

Sallie  had  already  decided  that  she  must  make  a  sketch  of  the 
beautiful  little  temple  (the  Erectheum),  whose  portico  is  supported  by 


I 


GREECE.  J  2  ■: 

columns  of  female  figures  called  Caryatides.  Sallie's  sketch-book  was 
already  filling  with  Greek  coiffures  and  jewelry  and  the  honeysuckle 
ornament,  a  conventional  design,  adapted  from  the  buds  of  the  honey- 
suckle. 

Gus,  thinking  of  the  story  of  the  origin  of  the  Corinthian,  the 
honeysuckle  ornament,  and  other  vegetable  forms,  was  planning  an 
essay  on  "  Botany  in  Architecture  ;  "  but  Lord  Saunters  advised  him  to 
wait  for  this,  until  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  study  mediaeval  Gothic  and 
the  Renaissance. 

Both  of  the  young  people  were 
eager  to  set  out  at  once  for  the  Acrop- 
olis ;  but  Lord  Saunters,  referring  to 
the  daily  newspaper,  found  an  an- 
nouncement that  there  would  be  a 
grand  illumination  of  the  Acropolis 
that  evening,  in  honor  of  the  Prince  ;  that  the  fireworks  would  be 
superb,  and  it  might  be  well  to  obtain  their  first  impressions  of  the 
place  from  this  unusual  spectacle. 

How  odd  it  seemed  to  be  reading  the  daily  newspaper  in  Neo- 
Hellenic,  a  language  differing  very  slightly  from  classical  Greek !  Sallie 
could  read  it  without  difficulty,  and  Gus  found  it  easier  than  Homer. 
"  I  shall  get  Tricoupi's  History  of  the  Greek  Revolution,"  Sallie 
announced,  "  and  begin  to  read  it  here." 

"  Do,  my  dear,"  advised  Lady  Saunters.  "  I  think  it  will  do  for 
our  Friday  readings." 

"  I  am  afraid  we  may  find  it  too  exciting,"  Sallie  replied.  "  You 
know  it  describes  the  struggle  with  the  Turks,  and  their  final  victory  in 
1820,  when,  by  the  countenance  of  the  European  powers,  they  were 
able  to  establish  an  independent  kingdom." 

"  And  there  are  some  Pallikars,  or  Braves,"  said  Algernon  Saunters, 
looking  from  the  hotel  window.     "  You  know  that  when  Thcssaly  was 


CARYATIDES. 


124 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


ceded   to  the  Turks,   these   people   left   their   homes,  and   migrated  to 
Southern  Greece  rather  than  remain  under  Turkish  domination." 

Gus  looked  out,  and  saw  a  group  of  wir}%  fierce-looking  men,  wear- 
ing red  caps,  white  shirts,  and  heavy  gold-embroidered  jackets,  w^ith 
very  full  white  kilts.  They  \vere  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  were  followed 
by  servants  loaded  down  by  more  weapons. 

"  These  men  would  like  nothing  better,"  said  Algernon,  "  than  to 
have  a  general  war,  which  would  give  them  license  to  fall  upon  the 
Turk.  England  will  have  to  keep  a  fleet  in  the  Piraeus  to  preserve 
peace." 

"Oh,  let  them  fight  it  out!"  Gus  exclaimed.  "It  seems  to  me 
this  peace  policy,  which  only  serves  to  keep  the  weaker  party  from 
defending  itself  against  bullies,  is  getting  to  be  rather  a  chestnut." 

Sallie  was  horrified,  and  expected  to  see  Gus  sternly  rebuked  ;  but, 
to  her  astonishment,  Algernon  Saunters  only  smiled. 

The /"^/e  in  the  evening  proved  to  be  a  ver}'  brilliant  one,  and  Sallie 
was  delighted  that  her  visit  to  Athens  had  chanced  to  fall  upon  such 
an  exceptional  time.  The  party  rode  out  to  the  Acropolis  in  open  car- 
riages, and  watched  the  fairy-like  effect.  First,  the  grand  mass  of  ruins, 
outlined  vaguely  against  the  starlit  sky  ;  the  waiting  crowd,  standing 
in  expectant  hush  ;  then  the  flash  of  the  Bengal  lights,  and  the  noble 
pillars,  with  all  their  matchless  symmetry,  were  brought  into  strong 
relief  against  the  strong  shadows. 

"It  is  wonderful !  it  is  wonderful  !  "  Sallie  exclaimed,  enthusiasti- 
cally, and  even  Lord  Saunters  admitted  that  "  it  capped  any  similar 
show"  he  had  ever  seen.  Only  Lady  Saunters  was  dissatisfied.  "The 
temples  are  so  frightfully  out  of  repair,"  she  complained  :  "  not  at  all 
kept  up,  like  our  Houses  of  Parliament,  my  dear." 

Sallie  was  charmed  with  the  little  Temple  of  the  Wingless  Victor}-, 
the  delicacy  and  grace  of  whose  Ionic  columns,  with  their  curling  ram's- 
horn  capitals,  contrasted  with  fine  effect  with  the  Titanic  strength  of 
the  Doric  pillars  of  the  Parthenon. 


GREECE. 


12' 


"  I  understand,"  she  said  simply,  as  she  rode  homeward  with  Alger- 
non and  her  brother,  "  the  meaning  and  beauty  of  the  promise,  '  Him 
that  overcometh  will  I  make  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of  my  God.'" 

"  I  have  changed  my  mind  about  that  essay,"  Gus  remarked.     "  I 


'-li  till  ?- 

THE    TEMPLE    OF    THE    WINGLESS    VICTORY. 

shall  lay  aside  '  Vegetable  Forms  in  Arehitecture,'  and  write  on 
'Pillars,'  —  the  Doric,  the  Ionic,  the  Corinthian,  and  the  Caryatides, 
which,  I  suppose,  illustrate  best  that  idea  of  our  being  pillars  in  the 
church." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  Algernon  said  curtly,  "  that  most  of  us  are  only 
pilasters." 


128  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    A  AD    TURKEY. 

"  I  do  not  quite  understand,"  said  Sallie. 

"  Gus  is  enough  of  an  architect  to  explain  the  difference  between  a 
pilaster  and  a  pillar,"  Algernon  replied. 

"  I  catch  on,"  Gus  exclaimed  irreverently,  "  A  pilaster  is  some- 
times only  an  ornamental  pillar,  fastened  to  the  wall,  apparently  aiding 
in  the  support  of  the  temple,  but  not  necessary  to  its  construction." 

"  I  am  afraid  most  of  us  are  little  more,"  said  Alofernon,  who  was 
dissatisfied  with  himself.  "  I  am  strongly  tempted,"  he  continued,  "  to 
give  up  my  proposed  trip  to  India,  and  to  return  to  England  via  the 
Turkish  provinces,  prosecuting  in  this  way  the  investigations  which  I 
have  begun." 

He  was  not  thoroughly  selfish,  and  he  had  been  strongly  stirred  by 
what  he  had  seen  and  heard.  His  English  sense  of  justice  was  out- 
raged by  the  mismanagement  and  oppression  exercised  by  Turkish 
rule.  "What  would  you  advise  me  to  do?"  he  asked.  "I  am 
ashamed  and  indignant   that  England  should  support  such  outrages." 

"  Then,  why  don't  you  collect  the  facts,  and  lay  them  before  the 
English  public  ?  " 

"That  is  just  it.  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall  become  a  fanatic,  and  go 
back  to  England  howling  for  reform."  The  young  man  became 
uneasy  under  Sallie's  quiet,  steady  gaze.  It  was  impossible  not  to  be 
entirely  frank,  with  those  eyes  reading  his  soul.  "And  then,  after  all, 
it's  none  of  my  business,  you  know,  and  I  am  not  quite  ready  to  throw 
away  all  my  chances  in  life  for  the  sake  of  championing  the  oppressed. 
If  I  go  out  to  India  with  the  Prince,  I  am  likely  to  receive  an  appoint- 
ment. I  am  only  a  beggar  of  a  second  son,  you  know.  There, 
I've  made  a  clean  breast  of  it  all.  What  do  you  think  of  the 
situation  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  are  in  just  the  position  of  that  rich  young  man  whom 
Jesus  loved,  and  whom  he  asked  to  leave  all  and  follow  him.  You 
have  position  and  influence  :  if  you  attend  to  this  matter,  which  appeals 
to  your  heart  and  conscience,  )'ou  may  effect  great  things  for  humanity, 


GREECE. 


129 


AT    THE    MUSEUM. 


and  find  the  grand   opportunity  of  your  life  —  that  of  working  with 
God." 

"  And  do  you  ask  this  sacrifice  of  me?" 

"  I  have  no  riofht  to  ask  it.  It  is  not  a  matter  in  which  I  am  at  all 
concerned,  except  as  your  earnest  friend  ;  but  I  think  Christ  asks  it  of 
you.    Still,  you  must  decide  it  for  yourself.     Is  the  demand  too  great  ? " 

"  If,  as  you  say,  you  are  not  at  all  concerned  in  it,  yes,  I  think  it  is." 

The  carriage  had  stopped  before  the  hotel,  and  Gus  had  sprung 
out.  Algernon  descended,  and  ex- 
tended his  hand  to  assist  her  to 
aliofht.  The  action  was  common- 
place  enough,  but  there  was  a  look 
of  unspeakable  entreaty  on  his  up- 
turned face.  A  pang  of  pity  shot 
through  Sallie's  honest,  kindly  heart, 
as  she   realized    for    the    first    time 

what  this  meant,  and,  like  the  young  man  in  the  Scripture  to  whom 
she  had  just  referred,  they  both  "  went  away  sorrowful." 

It  was  the  last  time  that  she  was  to  see  Algernon  Saunters  for 
many  months,  and,  although  she  had  not  been  to  blame,  the  memory 
of  his  face  was  not  a  pleasant  one. 

The  next  day  the  English  division  of  the  party  passed  in  making 
calls  upon  their  acquaintances,  and  in  driving  out  to  the  royal  country- 
seat.  Sallie  and  Gus  spent  it  industriously  in  the  museums,  especially 
interested  in  the  collections  made  by  Dr.  Schliemann.  In  the  evening 
there  was  a  state  banquet  given  by  the  King  and  Queen  of  Greece  to 
the  Prince,  but,  as  the  young  Americans  were  not  invited,  they  con- 
tented themselves  with  viewing  the  fireworks  in  front  of  the  Temple  of 
Jupiter  Olympus,  and  with  hearing  an  account  of  the  banquet  from 
Lady  Saunters.  On  Wednesday  the  royal  festivities  closed  with  a 
luncheon  to  the  King  and  Queen  of  Greece,  given  by  the  Prince,  on 
board  the  Serapis.     In  the  evening  the  royal  ship  steamed  away,  with 


-r^o  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

Algernon  Saunters  on  board.  He  had  left  without  bidding  Sallie 
good-by.  and,  to  the  surprise  of  Gus,  for  whom  he  left  a  fine  set  of 
Greek  photographs,  without  leaving  any  message  for  her. 

On  the  next  day  our  party  made  their  proposed  excursion  to 
Corinth,  accomplishing  more  in  one  short  day  than  our  space  will 
permit  us  to  chronicle  (since  our  story  is  not  of  Greece,  but  of  Turkey 
and  Russia),  and  on  Friday  they  left  the  Pirseus  for  Constantinople. 


FIRST  IMPRESSIOXS   OF   TURKEY.  j,j 


CHAPTER   XL 

FIRST    IMPRESSIONS    OF   TURKEY. 

AS  Sallie  sailed  up  the  Bosphorus,  and  entered  the  Golden  Horn, 
it  seemed  to  her  that  she  had  never  seen  anything  half  so  beau- 
tiful as  this  first  view  of  Constantinople.  The  radiant  white  city  stepped 
down  to  the  sea  by  a  series  of  terraces  ;  its  domes  and  minarets  and 
glittering  palaces  rising  from  gardens  and  groves  of  cypress,  and 
shining  in  the  morning  sunlight  like  a  vision  of  the  New  Jerusalem. 
The  glamour  was  not  entirely  dispelled  by  a  nearer  view,  for,  though 
she  caught  glimpses  of  narrow,  crooked  streets  and  of  much  filth  and 
poverty,  still  even  the  poorer  quarters  were  extremely  picturesque,  and 
they  passed  many  magnificent  stone  houses,  built  in  the  ornate  Oriental 
style  of  architecture.  Chief  among  these  were  the  Seraglio  and  the 
Mosque  of  St.  Sophia.  The  bazaars,  a  collection  of  over  six  hundred 
shops,  all  under  one  roof,  interested  Lady  Saunters  greatly.  Each 
little  street  was  devoted  to  one  particular  class  of  goods  :  for  instance, 
the  niches  on  one  little  lane  were  filled  entirely  with  amber ;  strings  of 
beads,  mouthpieces  for  pipes,  and  ornaments  of  various  kinds,  all 
carved  from  this  beautiful  substance.  Other  streets  were  devoted 
individually  to  the  display  of  silks,  rugs,  scarfs,  perfumes,  brazen 
lamps  and  pitchers,  inlaid  and  painted  furniture,  pipes,  weapons, 
slippers,  embroideries,  and  a  hundred  other  articles. 

But  the  people  themselves  were  the  most  interesting  of  all.  Here 
was  a  gray-bearded  merchant,  sitting  cross-legged  in  his  bazaar,  for  all 
the  world  like  a  picture  from  the  "  Arabian  Nights  ;  "  and  here  was 
Scheherezade,  veiled,  with  the  exception  of  one  coal-black  eye ;  and 
the   donkey-drivers  were  jostling   each    other,   and   the  water-carriers 


T  .  -s  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS   IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

^  J  - 

bawling,  just  as  she  had  expected.  They  were  all  so  interested  that 
they  strolled  from  one  street  to  another,  not  noticing  where  they  were 
going,  until  Lord  Saunters  suddenly  discovered  that  they  had  become 
separated  from  Mr.  Norcross,  and  that  they  w^ere  lost.  He  attempted 
to  inquire  the  w^ay  to  Pera  of  a  passer-by,  but  he  either  did  not  or 
would  not  understand.  It  was  in  vain  that  he  reiterated  the  word 
"  English."  A  shrugging  of  the  shoulders  and  a  spreading  of  the 
palms  was  the  only  response.  Sallie  saw^  that  they  were  in  a  more 
crowded  quarter  of  the  city.  Presently  she  was  jostled  by  a  Turk  with 
an  evil  expression,  who  muttered  curses  instead  of  apologies  ;  and  a 
crowd  collected,  pointing  and  jeering,  while  the  street  boys  threw  mud 
and  Small  stones. 

Lord  Saunters  was  greatl)-  incensed.  "  We  will  see  if  English 
tourists  are  to  be  insulted  on  the  streets  of  Constantinople ! "  he 
exclaimed,  and  began  to  bluster  in  his  haughty  way,  when  an  unsavory 
vegetable  hit  him  squarely  in  the  face.  At  that  instant,  a  gentleman 
in  the  costume  of  a  European  sprang  from  a  bazaar,  offered  his  right 
arm  to  Lady  Saunters  and  his  left  to  Sallie,  and  led  the  party  quickly 
out  of  the  mob,  to  the  underground  railroad  which  connects  Constan- 
tinople Avith  Pera,  its  European  suburb. 

"These  are  unsettled  times,"  he  remarked,  "and  it  is  hardly  safe 
for  strangers  to  ramble  about  this  part  of  the  city," 

At  Pera  they  seemed  suddenly  to  emerge  into  a  European  city,  so 
great  w^as  the  change  from  Stamboul,  the  true  Turkish  Constantinople 
Gus  remarked  on  the  English  and  French  signs  over  the  shops,  the 
foreign  post-offices,  the  Christian  churches,  an  Italian  opera,  and  a 
circulating  library.  They  established  themselves  at  the  Hotel  d'Angle- 
terre.  (Sallie  had  observed  that,  no  matter  w4iere  they  were,  they 
stopped  at  the  Hotel  d'Angleterre. )  His  Lordship  called  immediately 
at  the  British  Embassy,  and  reported  the  disappearance  of  I\Ir. 
Xorcross. 

He  was  told  that  there  w^as  probably  no  cause  for  alarm  :  that  he 


SKETCHES    AT    CONSTANTINOPLE. 


FIRST  IMPRESSIOiVS   OF   TURKEY. 


135 


LORD  SAUNTERS  DEPRESSED. 


had,  doubtless,  simply  lost  his  way  in  the  crowd,  and  would  soon  find 
them.  He  received,  on  the  other  hand,  very  little  encouragement  in 
reo-ard  to  the  ransom  which  had  been 
extorted  from  him.  Diplomatic  business 
was  much  involved,  and  there  seemed  to 
be  no  possibility  of  laying  the  matter 
before  the  Sultan.  He  might  call  on 
the  bankers,  and  leave  orders  to  refuse 
the  payment  of  the  check  when  pre- 
sented ;  but  this  seemed  to  Lord  Saun- 
ters hardly  an  honorable  thing  to  do. 

He  returned  to  the  hotel,  depressed 
and  irritable. 

"  I  shall  go  to  the  American  Mission  to-morrow,"  he  said  to  Sallie, 
"  and  see  whether  I  can  procure  proper  escort  for  you  to  your  friends. 

If  not,  I  strongly  advise  your  not  attempt- 
ing the  journey." 

The  visit  to  the  American  Mission 
proved  more  interesting  than  they  had 
anticipated,  and  here  Sallie  found  a  letter 
awaiting  her  from  Alice.  It  was  a  long, 
enthusiastic  letter,  full  of  delight  at  the 
coming  of  her  friend.  Alice  did  not  be- 
'  '  lieve  that  there  was  serious  danger,  cer- 
^  tainly  not  for  foreigners,  and  she  would 
count  the  days  until  Sallie's  arrival.  A 
Mr.  Humphrey  would  leave  Constantinople 
soon,  on  his  return  to  Philippopolis.  He 
was  an  earnest  missionary,  just  the  one  to 
take  charge  of  them  ;  and  she  had  written  requesting  him  to  conduct 
the  young  people  on  their  journey. 

Gus  was  not  over- pleased  with  this  prospect.      He  insisted  that  Mr. 


GUS  S  IDEA  OF  MR.   HUMPHREY. 


136 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


Humphrey  would  prove  to  be  a  disagreeable,  priggish,  and  sanctimo- 
nious old  fraud  ;  and  he,  drew  such  an  amusing  portrait  of  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey, as  he  imagined  him,  that  Sallie  was  convulsed.     "  He  will  think  it 

wicked  to  drink  cider,  I  know,"  said  Gus,  "be- 
cause it  works  on  Sunday.  And  here's  good- 
by  to  every  speck  of  fun  for  the  rest  of  the  trip." 
"  We  will  see,"  Sallie  replied  hopefully.  "  I, 
for  one,  am  so  thankful  that  on  this  Sunday  we 
can  attend  a  Christian  church,  and  hear  the 
dear  old,  familiar  hymns  !  "  The  day  was  passed 
quietly.  They  attended  services  at  the  Ameri- 
can Mission.  Before  enterino-  the  church,  thev 
took  a  linoferine  view  of  the  beautiful  mina- 
retted  city,  and,  as  they  took  their  seats,  Sallie 
started  to  hear  Dr.  Doddridge's  hymn,  which  seemed  to  have  been 
written  for  this  ver^'  place  and  hour. 


MR.   HUMPHREY  APPEARS. 


"  See  Salem's  golden  spires 
In  beauteous  prospect  rise, 
And  flowers  of  Paradise 

In  rich  profusion  spring  ; 
The  Sun  of  Glory  gilds  the  path. 
And  dear  companions  sing." 


That  afternoon,  the  servant  brought  in  Mr.  Humphrey's  card.  Lady 
Saunters  descended  with  Sallie,  and  they  were  surprised  to  recognize 
the  gentleman  who  had  rescued  them  from  their  unpleasant  predica- 
ment on  their  arrival.  He  had  an  intellectual  face,  refined  and  pleas- 
ing manners ;  he  was  dressed  in  quiet,  good  taste,  and  he  presented  in 
every  way  the  appearance  of  a  man  accustomed  to  the  amenities  of  the 
best  society. 

He  was  courteous,  intelligent,  and  prepossessing.  "  He  is  so  ver)- 
nice,"  Lady  Saunters  admitted  afterward,  "  that  I  felt  quite  sure  that  it 


ENGLISH    INSULTED    IN    CONSTANTINOPLE. 


r/IiST  IMJ'KESSIOAS   OF    TURKEY.  I  ^q 

would  be  improper  for  )Ou  to  travel  with  him,  until  he  told  me  that  he 
was  going  out  with  his  wife." 

Mr.  Humphrey  offered  to  show  them  over  Robert  College, —  an 
invitation  which  was  gladly  accepted  ;  and  Sallie  enjoyed  the  surprise 
of  her  brother  on  meeting  the  missionary,  and  finding  him  so  different 
from  what  he  had  imagined. 

She  was  herself  surprised  at  the  extent  of  the  college,  the  beauty 
of  the  buildings,  and  its  valuable  collections. 

Mr.  Humphrey  gave  them  an  interesting  account  of  the  origin  of 
the  college.  "  In  1850,  when  Mr.  Hamlin  was  American  missionary 
here,"  said  Mr.  Humphrey,  "  his  attention  was  drawn  to  the  fact  that, 
wherever  a  Turk  embraced  Christianity,  his  fellow-Turks  instantly  boy- 
cotted him,  declining  to  give  him  employment,  or  patronage  of  any 
kind,  so  that  starvation  for  himself  and  family  stared  him  in  the  face. 
Mr.  Hamlin  attempted  to  give  employment  to  these  cases,  by  inventing 
trades  for  them,  but  soon  found  that  there  were  so  many  of  them  that 
some  large  business  must  be  maintained  to  be  at  all  adequate  to  the 
demand.  He  puzzled  his  brain  for  some  time  to  light  upon  something 
which  could  not  be  put  down  by  the  Turkish  authorities,  and,  after  a 
good  deal  of  research,  discovered  that  one  of  the  former  Sultans,  who 
desired  to  attract  emigration  to  Constantinople,  had  issued  a  firman 
permitting  every  foreign  colony  In  the  city  to  maintain  its  own  bakery. 
Now,  there  was  at  this  time  quite  a  colony  of  English  residents  in  the 
city,  and  no  English  bakery,  while  Turkish  bread  was  very  poor.  Mr. 
Hamlin  called  upon  the  English  banker,  and  explained  his  project  of 
establishing  a  steam-bakery.  The  banker  considered  the  idea  a  good 
one,  and  advanced  a  sufficient  sum  for  the  plant.  Mr.  Hamlin  went 
right  to  work,  ordered  his  machinery,  and  proceeded  to  experiment  in 
bread-making.  He  taught  his  men  how  to  carry  on  the  business, 
engaged  customers  for  them  among  the  foreign  residents,  and  soon 
had  them  doing  a  paying  business. 

"Then  the  Crimean  War  broke  out.     The  price  of  flour  rose  enor- 


140 


THREE    VASSAR  PIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


mously  ;  many  of  his  customers  left  the  city,  and  a  famine  broke  out 
among  the  poor.  Mr.  Hamhn,  in  the  absence  of  regular  business, 
turned  his  bakery  into  a  charitable  institution.  He  had  six  thousand 
pounds  of  coarse  Graham  flour,  not  up  to  the  standard  of  what  they 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  using,  but  sweet  and  wholesome,  and  this  he 
made  up  into  bread,  and,  with  the  help  of  a  committee  of  foreign 
residents,  he  distributed  among  the  poor.  Then  the  English  army 
began  to  arrive,  and  Lord  Raglan  engaged  Mr.  Hamlin  to  furnish  it 
with  bread,  a  commission  which  amounted  to  five  thousand  loaves  a 
day.  When  the  British  army  withdrew,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
close  the  bread  business,  and  Mr.  Hamlin  turned  over  the  entire 
profits,  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  to  the  American  Board,  to  be  used 
as  a  church  and  schoolhouse  buildine  fund." 

"  And  that  was  the  way  the  money  was  obtained  for  the  founding 
of  Robert  College  ?  "  Sallie  asked. 

"  Not  exactly  ;  but  the  college  owes  its  existence  to  Mr.  Hamlin's 
bakery  in  another  way.  In  1856,  Mr.  Robert,  a  wealthy  American,  was 
sailing  up  the  Bosphorus,  when  a  boat  laden  with  bread,  bound  for  the 
English  hospital,  passed  him.  The  delicious  odor  struck  him,  and  he 
asked  where  such  good  bread  v.-as  made.  On  learning  that  it  was  at 
the  American  Mission,  he  was  indignant.  '  And  this  is  the  way  our 
missionaries  fulfil  their  trust,  and  ^o  about  their  business  of  savinor 
men's  souls ! '  he  exclaimed.  He  called  upon  Mr.  Hamlin,  intending 
to  investigate  the  matter,  and  to  denounce  him  to  the  Board.  Mr. 
Hamlin  explained  everything  to  him,  and,  instead  of  denouncing,  he 
praised.  More  than  this,  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the  mission, 
and  gave  more  than  tivo  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  the  establishing 
of  this  college."  ' 

Sallie  was  greatly  interested  in  all  that  she  heard  and  saw.  She 
was  introduced  to  some  Bulgarian  students,  gentlemanly  fellows,  wear- 

'  This  account  of  the  origin  of  Robert  College  is  drawn  from  "  Stories  from  a  Missionary's  Note- 
Book,"  by  Ex-President  Cyrus  Hamlin,  published  in  The  Golden  Rule. 


FII^ST  IMPRESS/OA'S   OF   TURKEY. 


141 


Ing  the  European  costume,  and  conversing  fluently  in  French  and 
English,  and  she  thought  that  they  compared  well  with  the  Harvard 
and  Yale  men  of  her  acquaintance.  She  conversed  with  one  of  them 
on  the  condition  of  political  affairs  in  Bulgaria.  "  We  all  long  for 
independence,"  he  said,  "and  the  league  called  'Young  Bulgaria '  is 
looking  anxiously  for  some  opportunity  to 
accomplish  this  end  ;  but  I  see  no  possible 
chance  for  us.  and  we  will  probably  be 
severely  punished  by  the  Turkish  Govern- 
ment for  this  feeble  desire.  A  young  man 
of  my  acquaintance  published  a  volume 
of  Bulgarian  poems,  and,  because  he  in- 
cluded in  it  a  few  old  national  ballads,  he 
was  thrown  into  prison.  Some  of  the 
foreio^n  leofations  made  a  little  talk  about 
it,  and,  the  matter  coming  to  the  Sultan's 
ears,  the  poet  was  promptly  beheaded,  in 
order  to  put  an  end  to  the  agitation." 

As  Lord  and  Lady  Saunters  had  planned 
to  remain  in  Constantinople  for  a  few  days, 
Mr.  Humphrey  kindly  offered  to  show  them 
about  the  city.  Mr.  Norcross  had  not  ap- 
peared, and  the  party  were  becoming  very 
anxious  for  his  safety,  —  Lord  Saunters  even  feared  that  he  might 
have  been  murdered.  A  visit  to  the  bank  on  the  following  day  placed 
an  entirely  different  construction  on  his  disappearance.  Lord  Saunters's 
check,  filled  out,  not  for  twelve  hundred,  but  for  four  thousand  pounds, 
had  been  presented  and  cashed  by  a  European,  whose  description  Lord 
Saunters  immediately  recognized  as  that  of  his  secretar)-.  The  evi- 
dence was  overwhelming.  Lord  Saunters  had  been  tricked  b)'  Mr. 
Xorcross,  who  had  now  absconded  with  the  money.  Under  the  exist- 
ing  confusion   in    Constantinople,  there   was    no   way   ot    tracking   the 


STUDEXT  OF  ROBERT  COLLEGE. 


j_j^2  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 

scoundrel,  and  his  Lordship  bore  the  loss  with  more  equanimity  than 
might  have  been  expected. 

"  I  shall  have  the  less  to  leave  Algy,"  he  said,  with  a  sorrowful 
shake  of  the  head. 

"And  the  less  with  which  to  do  such  deeds  as  Mr.  Robert's,"  Sallie 
added,  apparently  not  perceiving  the  startled  look  in  Lord  Saunters's 
face,  which  told  that  he  had  not  thought  of  such  a  disposal  of  his  funds. 

"That  is  true,"  he  said,  after  a  moment's  pause.  "What  is  given 
away  is  the  only  money  that  is  put  *  where  thieves  do  not  break 
through.'  " 

The  next  day  was  devoted  to  excursions  by  water  in  a  caique  to 
the  different  environs. 

At  Scutari  they  visited  the  English  and  Turkish  cemeteries.  Among 
the  cypresses  in  the  former  were  buried  many  of  the  English  who  fell 
during  the  Crimean  War.  There  was  a  terrible  daily  death-rate  at  the 
English  hospital  at  Scutari,  until  Florence  Nightingale  came  out  from 
England  with  her  little  band  of  devoted  nurses,  and  took  charge  of  its 
wards. 

Sallie  listened  to  the  stor}'  of  this  heroic  woman,  not  thinking  that 
she  would  soon  be  eneasfed  in  the  same  work.  In  the  Turkish  ceme- 
tery  they  saw  a  veiled  woman  rise  from  beside  a  grave,  and  glide  away. 
The  tombs  of  men  here  bore  the  emblem  of  the  turban.  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey pointed  out  to  Gus  the  tomb  of  the  favorite  horse  of  the  Sultan 
Mahmoud.  "  I  should  like  to  know  what  he  did  to  merit  this  distinc- 
tion. Perhaps  he  bore  his  master  victoriously  through  some  battle. 
Did  you  ever  see  General  Sheridan's  horse  ?  You  know  they  have 
it  stuffed  at  the  museum  at  Governor's  Island." 

Mr.  Humphrey  had  seen  Sheridan's  horse,  but  he  could  not  tell  the 
story  of  Sultan  Mahmoud's,  and  regretted  that  no  Turkish  Browning 
had  written  a  ballad  on  its  exploits. 

That  afternoon,  Gus,  for  the  first  time,  experienced  the  overrated 
luxury  of  a  Turkish  bath.      He  could   not  persuade   Lord   Saunters  to 


F/RSl^  IMPI^ESSIO.XS   OF   TURKEY. 


^^'h 


accompany  him.  "  I  shall  not  willingly  put  myself  into  the  hands  of 
these  savages,"  he  explained.  "  I  have  had  enough  attention  given  to 
my  toilet  by  Montenegrins  and  Turks." 


MONUMENT    IN    THE    BRITISH    GRAVEYARD,    SCUTARI. 

The  description  which  Gus  gave  of  his  experience  did  not  cause  his 
Lordship  to  regret  his  decision. 

"  First,"  said  Gus,  "  I  got  into  .swimming  costume,  then  I  lay  on  a 
couch  until,  as  the  little  shaver  said,  '  I  was  all  Presbyterianism.'     Then 


T44 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 


A    FAMILY    CORNER TURKISH    CEMETERY,    SCUTARI. 


:he  Jack  of  Spades, 
who  bosses  the  con- 
cern, took  me  into 
an  oven,  laid  me 
down  on  a  hot 
stone,  and  kneaded 
and  paddled  and 
thumped  and  mas- 
saged and  punched 
and  pummelled 
and  squeezed  and 
wrenched  and  tor- 
tured me  generally. 
Then  he  dashed  on 
a  lot  of  scalding 
water,  and  lathered 
and  skinned  me ; 
finally  he  rigged  me 
out  in  a  togfa  made 
'  of  Turkish  towel- 
ling, and  gave  me 
a  hookah  to  smoke. 
I  think  he  was  mad 
because  I  wouldn't 
touch  the  dirty  thing 
to  my  lips ;  but  I 
managed  to  gulp 
down  the  little  cup 
of  black  coffee  he 
brought,  and  that 
seemed  to  appease 
him   some.      I    tell 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  OF  TURKEY. 


145 


ABD-UL-AZIZ. 


you  that   fellow  earned  his  money  :  there  is  more  exercise  in  it  than 

in  a  game  of  football.  Indeed,  I 
couldn't  help  thinking,  all  the  time, 
that  it  ivas  a  block  game,  and  that 
our  side  was  getting  awfully  beaten. 
I  had  such  a  good  chance  to  tackle 
that  old  Blackamoor  in  the  scrim- 
mage, it  was  all  I  could  do  to  keep 
from  kicking  the  sponge  right  out 
of  his  hand,  clear  over  the  goal." 

Lord  and  Lady  Saunters  re- 
mained with  them  but  one  day 
more.  The  clay  was  devoted  to  a 
more  satisfactory  view  of  the  Turk- 
ish city,  under  the  guidance  of  Mr. 

Humphrey,  than  their  first  had  been.      They  visited  the  palace  of  the 

Seraglio,    and  happened    to    catch   a 

glimpse  of   the   Sultan  Abd-ul-Aziz, 

as  he  rode  through  the  city.      "  His 

face    is    more    weak    than    wicked," 

Sallie    said;    "I    fancy    he   is   afraid 

of  his    own    subjects."     The    furtive 

glance  and  pale  face  were  distinctl)- 

remembered  as  she  read,  not  a  year 

later,   that  he   had   been   deposed   in 

favor  of  Mourad  V.,   and   had    com- 
mitted suicide. 

Lord  Saunters  and  Gus,  by  pay- 
ing a  fee,  were    allowed    to  see  the 

interior  of  the  beautiful   Mosque  of 

Suleiman  the    Magnificent,   with    its 

six  minarets,  and  that  of  St.  Sophia. 


MOURAD    v. 

The  latter  is  built  in  the  form  of 


146 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


TOMB    OF    SULTAN    MAHMOUD  S    FAVORITE    HORSE. 


a  Greek  cross,  and 
Gus  recalled  the 
fact  that  it  was 
built  by  the  great 
Emperor  Constan- 
tine  as  a  Christian 
church.  They  could 
see  the  figures  of 
the  Cherubim  dimly 
through  the  white- 
wash with  which 
they  had  been  cov- 
ered. Mr.  Hum- 
phrey pointed  out 
some  pillars  said  to 
have  come  from  the 
Temple  of  Diana  at 
Ephesus, 

"  The  Russians," 
said  he,  "  and  other 
members  of  the 
Greek  Church,  look 
longingly  toward 
this  church,  and 
dream  of  the  time 
when  it  will  be  re- 
stored to  the  Chris- 
tian faith." 

And  this  again 
came  back  to  Gus, 
as  later  he  heard 
the  marching  Cos- 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS  OF  TURKEY. 


149 


sacks    singing   songs,    whose    spirit     Edna    Dean     Proctor    has    ren- 
dered in  her 

"EMPIRE  OF  THE   EAST. 

"  Hail  to  the  glorious  morning, 

When  the  cross  again  shall  shine 
On  the  summit  of  St.  Sophia, 
O  city  of  Constantine  ! 

In  the  sky  of  the  South,  at  midnight, 

We  have  seen  God's  flaming  sign, 
And  we  know  he  will  drive  the  Moslem  horde 

As  chaff  from  his  sacred  shrine. 
Silent  will  be  the  Muezzin, 

As  the  sun  on  Asia  sets : 
Folded  the  crescent  banner, 

Crumbled  the  minarets. 

Then,  in  the  grand  cathedral 

Victorious  chants  we'll  raise. 
While  the  saints  look  down  with  loving  eyes, 

And  the  gems  of  the  altar  blaze. 
Hail  to  the  day  when  the  eagles 

And  the  cross  shall  gain  their  own, 
As  the  patriarch  welcomes  our  Lord,  the  Czar, 

To  the  Caesar's  ancient  throne." 

Sallie  and  Gus  were  sorry  to  bid  farewell  to  their  English  friends. 
In  spite  of  their  differences  of  taste  and  inherited  habits  of  thought 
and  life,  the  companionship  had  been  very  pleasant  for  all,  and  a  tirm 
friendship  had  been  formed,  while  the  electric  sparks  of  influence  which 
go  out  from  every  life  like  Sallie's  had  quickened  and  kindled  Lord  and 
Lady  Saunters  to  new  considerations  of  their  responsibility. 

On  board  the  steamer  which  was  to  carry  them  homeward  a  Turkish 
vessel  from  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Black  Sea  landed  its  passengers 
—  a  regiment  of  irregular  Circassian  troops,  the  terrible  Bashi-Bazouks, 
soon  to  be  turned  loose  upon  Bulgaria,  to  punish  its  unformulated 
desire  for  independence.  The  pay  of  this  corps  consisted  in  permis- 
sion to  pillage  the  unhappy  country,  and  they  shordy  after  accomplished 


I  -o  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  EY  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


I 


this  task  with  a  l^rutality  of  wholesale  slaughter  unsurpassed  in  the 
annals  of  the  world's  history. 

But  before  this  was  done  Sallie  reached  Samokov  safely,  and  was 
warmly  greeted  by  Alice.  She  found  her  friend  teaching  in  the  girls' 
school.  Marika  w^as  here,  looking  lovelier  than  ever,  and  Katarinka 
was  one  of  the  brightest  scholars.  There  were  scattered  acts  of  atrocity 
on  the  part  of  the  Turks,  —  twenty  Bulgarians  w^ere  murdered  before 
Christmas,  —  but  there  was  no  o-eneral  outbreak  of  w^ar  ;  and  at  Samo- 
kov  all  was  so  peaceful  that  it  w^as  difficult  to  believe  that  the  country 
was  on  the  eve  of  a  ereat  convulsion.  Alice  w^as  an  enthusiast  in  her 
work,  and  could  not  be  persuaded  to  leave  it.  "I  w^ill  go  w'ith  you 
next  summer  for  a  little  tour  during  the  vacation,"  she  had  said  to 
Sallie,  "  if  you  will  spend  the  winter  with  me  here." 

The  idea  pleased  Sallie.  Mr.  Osborne  was  in  Samokov,  and  had 
offered  to  take  Gus  with  him  on  a  tour  which  he  proposed  to  make 
throueh  Bulgaria  and  Servia.  Sallie  was  orlad  to  have  her  brother 
under  the  influence  of  such  a  man  ;  and,  as  she  noted  the  picturesque 
types  about  her,  she  felt  sure  that  she  could  spend  a  season  of  art- 
study  very  profitably  in  the  companionship  of  her  dearest  friend  Alice. 
The  cost  of  living  was  less  here  than  in  any  European  city,  and  she 
settled  herself  very  contentedly  at  the  mission.  But  she  had  not 
calculated  on  the  contagion  of  Alice's  zeal.  Sallie  very  soon  discovered 
that  her  friend  was  overworked,  and  offered  to  take  her  class  in 
sewing  for  her.  She  became  so  interested  in  it  that  she  declined  to 
give  it  up,  and  soon  assumed  another  in  penmanship,  and  the  sketching 
became  an  entirely  secondary  affair.  She  caught  at  the  language  easily, 
and  soon  learned  to  sing  the  hymns,  and  talk  brokenly  with  her  pupils. 
Suddenly,  in  the  midst  of  this  pleasant  occupation,  there  came  to  her  a 
letter  which  made  her  heart  leap  wath  a  wild,  sweet  exultation  ;  for  with 
it  there  was  a  little  packet,  from  which  rolled  no  gems  of  price,  but 
Captain  Muller's  epaulets.      He  had  given  up  the  army  for  her  sake. 


ST.   PETERSBURG. 


151 


CHAPTER  XII. 


ST.    PETERSBURG. 


DESPITE  the  annoyances  which  were  to  follow,  Melicent's  first 
experiences  in  St.  Petersburg  were  very  pleasant.  All  was  so 
odd  and  delightful,  so  different 
from  any  other  European  city 
which  she  had  seen. 

The  railway  station  was  sur- 
rounded by  droskies,  and  their 
drivers,  who  knew  no  English, 
but  were  adepts  in  the  universal 
sign-language.  Melicent  had 
learned  a  few  Russian  phrases, 
and  advanced  boldly,  holding  up 
before  the  group  which  immedi- 
ately formed  about  her  a  coin, 
and  naming  the  hotel  to  which 
she  wished  to  be  taken.  The 
brotherhood  of  drivers  received 
this  proposition  with  scorn.  Meli- 
cent turned  away  from  them  with 
a  magnificent  air,  and,  drawing 
her  mother's  arm  within  her  own,  walked  away.  A  driver  followed  her, 
screaming  ''  Pojalooyte','  which  Melicent  took  for  surrender ;  and  the 
two  ladies  mounted  into  the  queer  little  gig,  and  were  driven  rapidly 
through  the  Nevsky  Prospect,  the  principal  avenue  of  the  city. 

The  wideness  of  the  streets  reminded  the  two  ladies  of  Washington, 


DROSKY-DRIVER. 


152 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


the  city  of  magnificent  distances.  All  was  on  a  grand  scale,  spacious 
and  grandiose ;  here  the  citizens  had  evidently  room  to  breathe ;  private 
houses  had  the  appearance  of  palaces ;  the  shops  were  alive  with 
elegant  ladies,  making  purchases  :  and  generals  and  noblemen  dashed 
through   the   street  on  horseback   or   in   sumptuous   carriages.     They 


ST.    ISAAC  S    CHURCH. 


passed  the  Admiralty,  and  turned  into  St.  Isaac's  Square,  named  from 
the  magnificent  cathedral  which  fronts  it.  Melicent  succeeded  in 
stopping  her  driver,  and  in  entering  the  building.  She  found  it 
extremely  simple,  but  impressive  from  its  vastness.  Each  of  its  four 
porches  is  supported  by  immense  granite  pillars,  sixty  feet  in  height. 
The  interior  carried  out  the  same  feeling  of  immensity.      Looking  up 


ST.   PETERSBURG. 


155 


into  the  great  dome,  Melicent's  brain  reeled  with  wonder  at  the  power 
of  man  to  accompHsh  such  a  result.  It  was  a  relief  to  turn  from  it  to 
the  jewelled  shrine    of  Prince   Demidoff,  the  owner  of  the   malachite 


fe^- 


STATUE  OF  PETER  THE  GREAT. 


mines  of  Siberia.  Melicent  was  fond  of  malachite,  with  its  varying- 
shades  of  exquisite  green,  and  she  examined  with  interest  the  beautiful 
specimens  of  which  the  dome  of  this  shrine  is  formed. 


156 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA   AND    TURKEY. 


"  I  wonder  where  we  can  find  articles  made  from  malachite  for 
sale,"  she  said  to  her  mother. 

"  I  fancy  we  had  better  wait  until  we  have  been  here  some  time," 
Mrs.  Davenport  replied.  "  I  have  always  found  it  a  good  plan  not  to 
purchase  souvenirs  until  just  before  one  is  about  to  leave.  You  learn 
the  current  prices,  and  have  an  opportunity  to  compare  and  choose. 
Very  likely,  too,  Captain  MUller's  sister  can  give  us  points." 

In  the  centre  of  the  great  square  in  front  of  the  cathedral  stands 
the  statue  of  Peter  the  Great.  They  had  an  excellent  view  of  it  from 
every  side.  St.  Petersburg  is  an  extremely  flat  cit}%  with  no  rocks  in 
its  vicinity,  consequently  great  masses  of  stone  are  at  a  premium ;  and 
the  Emperor  Nicholas  selected  for  the  pedestal  of  this  statue  a  huge 
bowlder,  and  caused  it  to  be  transported  to  the  city  from  a  great 
distance.  The  statue,  a  very  spirited  one  by  Falconet,  has  a  fine, 
realistic  effect.  Peter  appears  to  be  riding  up  an  eminence,  and  is  just 
in  the  act  of  reigning  in  his  horse  on  the  brink  of  a  precipice.  From 
the  Square  of  St.  Isaac's  the  travellers  proceeded  to  their  hotel  on  the 
English  Quay,  facing  the  Neva,  and  not  far  from  the  Nicholas  Bridge. 
This  is  the  fashionable  afternoon  promenade  of  St.  Petersburg ;  and 
from  their  windows  Mrs.  Davenport  and  her  daughter  saw  some  of  the 
highest  nobility  of  the  country,  and  among  them  the  imperial  family. 
Melicent  was  struck  with  the  preponderance  of  military  uniforms.  "All 
of  the  gentlemen  seem  to  be  in  the  army,"  she  remarked  to  her  mother, 
"  and  yet  Russia  is  not  at  war  with  any  other  nation.  I  wonder  when 
these  gayly-dressed  fellows  will  be  called  on  to  lay  down  their  lives  for 
the  Czar.  Somewhere,  very  soon,  I  am  sure.  I  am  so  impatient  to 
begin  my  medical  studies  in  order  to  be  ready  to  follow  the  Red  Cross 
on  its  next  campaign,  wherever  it  may  be  !  " 

Mrs.  Davenport  looked  up  wearily.  "  Don't  begin  immediately, 
dear,"  she  said  ;  "  take  a  little  time  for  sio-ht-seein^  first.  I  am  sure  we 
shall  find  St.  Petersburg  very  interesting,  and  )-ou  will  have  no  time  to 
do  it  justice  after  you  have  once  plunged  into  your  studies." 


1 


llilBliL.. 


ST.   PETERSBURG. 

Melicent  shrugged  her  shoulders  impatiendy. 
to  devote  an  hour  every  afternoon,  perhaps 
longer,  to  driving  with  you  ;  but  I  do  want 
to  begin  my  studies  at  once." 

"  Then,  dear,  the  first  step  will  be  to 
obtain  a  private  driver,  whom  we  can  de- 
pend upon,  to  take  you  regularly  to  the 
medical  school,  and  to  drive  us  about  the 
city.  We  must  not  be  left  at  the  mercy  of 
these  isvostchiks,  or  drosky-men,  though  I 
think  you  managed  very  nicely  this  morn- 
ing. What  a  very  shocking  language  it  is  ! 
I  can't  understand  a  word  of  it,  but  I  am 
confident  that  it  is  much  more  profane  than 
other  languages." 

Melicent  laughed  merrily.  "  I  remember 
seeing  somewhere,"  she  said,  "  a  story  of  a 


159 
"  I  promise,  mamma, 


THE    COUNTESS    MELINOFF. 


foreigner  who  heard  the  Boots  at  his  hotel 
repeating  emphatically  the  word  '  Tcheti- 
rnadtzat'  and  immediately  jumped  at  the 
conclusion  that  such  a  disagreeable  word 
must  be  an  oath,  and,  accordingly,  when 
angry  with  his  driver,  shouted  at  him  in  a 
very  vigorous  manner,  '  Tchetiniadtzat.! 
tchetir-r-r-r-nadtzatr  but,  as  the  word 
really  meant  only  fourteen,  the  driver  sim- 
ply drove  about  from  street  to  street,  stop- 
ping inquiringly  at  the  number  fourteen." 

The  Davenports'  first  call  was  upon  the 
Countess   Melinoff,    the    sister  of   Captain 
Miiller.     She  had  already   heard   much   of 
her  brother's  American  friends,  and  received  them  most  kindly.     Count 


MRS.    DAVENPORT. 


i6o 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


Feodor  MelinofT,  her  husband,  was  an  intelligent  and  courteous  gentle- 
man, whose  duties  kept  him  near  the  Czar.  Their  apartments  were  in 
a  charming  palace,  and  the  ladies  were  immediately  introduced  into  a 
delightful  circle  of  Russian  society.  Melicent  found  that  listening  to 
the  gay  and  witty  conversation  of  the  ladies  who  hovered   in  the  after- 


THE    WINTER    PALACE. 


noon  about  the  countess's  samovar  (tea-urn)  was  a  very  pleasant  and 
effective  way  of  studying  the  Russian  language,  and  even  Mrs,  Daven- 
port began  to  pick  up  and  use  the  words  which  had  seemed  to  her  so 
unpronounceable. 

They  met  many  distinguished  people,  and  Melicent  was  deservedly 
popular,  as  every  true  American  girl  is  sure  to  be.  One  afternoon  they 
"witnessed  a  military  review   from  the  carriage  of  the  countess,  and, 


ST.   PETERSBURG. 


I6l 


among  the  officers  manoeuvring  the  troops,  the  Grand  Duke,  several 
princes,  and  the  two  Generals  Skobeleff,  father  and  son,  were  pointed 
out,  with  General  Gourko,  and  others,  destined  to  become  more  famous 
in  the  approaching 
war.  After  the  re- 
view, a  young  man 
rode  up  to  the  car- 
riage, and  w^as  pre- 
sented by  the  coun- 
tess as  Prince  Tserte- 
leff.  He  had  visited 
England,  and  spoke 
English  well.  He 
impressed  the  ladies 
as  a  man  of  modesty 
and  ability,  and  Mrs. 
Davenport  asked  if 
he  w^ere  a  soldier. 
"  He  is  attached  to 
the  diplomatic  ser- 
vice," replied  Count 
Melinoff ;  "  but  he  is 
a  bright  youngster  : 
we  shall  hear  of  him 
again." 

A  few  days  later 
Melicent  had  the 
honor  of  being  presented  to  the  Czar.  She  did  not  lose  her  self- 
possession,  but  told  him,  with  simple  dignity,  how  high  a  privilege  she 
considered  it  to  meet  the  man  who  had  inaugurated  his  career  by 
freeing  fourteen  million  serfs. 

"  Do  you   know,"  he   replied   as   simply,   "  who  it  is  \\\\o  is  really 
responsible  for  that  ?  " 


THE    GRAND    DUKE    NICHOLAS. 


l62 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


"  No,  sire." 

"It  is  our  novelist  Turorenef.  I  should  never  have  thought  of  it 
but  for  him.  I  am  fond  of  hunting,  and,  when  his  'Memoirs  of  a 
Sportsman  '  was  published,  I  said  to  myself,  '  Here  is  something  which 
will  interest  me.'  And  it  did ;  but  not  in  the  way  I  had  expected.  The 
former  serfs  of  Russia  owe  their  liberation  to  that  book." 

Melicent  could  not  consent  to  spend  more  than  a  very  small  portion 
of  her  time  in  society,  but  began  her  medical 
studies  at  once.  Their  coachman,  Dimitri  Dimi- 
trievitch,  whom  they  had  obtained  through  their 
landlord,  spoke  English,  and  proved  to  be  a  jewel 
of  intelligence ;  but,  when  so  reported  to  the 
count,  he  exclaimed,  "An  intelligent  coachman! 
Impossible  !  the  only  men  of  intelligence  of  that 
class  are  in  the  service  of  the  detective  police." 

Count    Melinoff   had   spoken  at   random,  and 

Mrs.  Davenport  was  far  from  taking  alarm  ;   but 

Dimitri   Dimitrievitch    was,    in    fact,    a    detective. 

The  Davenports  had  been  followed  to  their  hotel 

by  the  little  man  who  had  dogged  their  steps  from 

Vienna.      He  had  explained  to  the  landlord   that 

-,=^it  was  necessary  that  his  guests  should  be  placed 

under  police  surveillance,  and  when  Mrs.  Daven- 

DiMiTKi  DiMiTRiE-      port  desired   the  landlord  to   secure  a  coachman, 

her  request  was   sent  to  the  police  headquarters, 

and   Dimitri,   one   of  the  best    detectives   on    the   force,   was   installed 

in  his  position. 

Melicent's  desire  to  study  medicine  strengthened  the  suspicions. 
Several  of  the  medical  students  w^ere  sitspecfs,  and  Dimitri  watched 
carefully  to  see  if  Melicent  cultivated  the  acquaintance  of  these  persons. 
He  was  so  obliging  and  competent  that  Mrs.  Davenport  employed  him 
in  many  ways,  and  intrusted  him  more  and  more  with  her  affairs.     He 


<fe: 


, 

"r 
^ 

'^r 

■^, 

4= 

'if^ 

^ 

^. 

>.  .J" 

''7  ^ 

■-iT.-  »«j 


r<f  \ 


ST.   PETERSBURG. 


165 


knew  all  the  acquaintances  of  both  the  ladies  ;  he  read  every  letter 
which  they  received  or  wrote  ;  he  did  all  their  errands,  and  noted  every 
circumstance,  however  slight.  That  the  Count  and  Countess  Melinoff 
should  be  their  most  intimate  friends  surprised  him,  for  the  count  was 
an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Czar,  and  a  representative  of  the  old  aris- 
tocracy. When  he  took  the  ladies  to  the  Countess  Melinoff' s  first 
reception,  and  noted  the  liveries  of  the  servants  on  the  long  line  of 
carriages,  and  the  crests  upon  the  panels  of  the  carriages,  it  seemed  to 
him  that  his  employers  moved  in  a  very  respectable  rank  of  society, 
and  he  reflected  that,  if  they  were  "  politicals,"  they  must  be  very 
important  and  dangerous  ones. 

They  were  fond  of  visiting  the  different  palaces,  and  remained,  as 
it  seemed  to  him,  a  long  time  in  the  picture-gallery  of  the  Hermitage, 
and  in  the  Imperial  Library.  Could  it  be  that  they  were  lying  in  wait 
to  assassinate  the  Czar  ?  It  surely  was  not  possible  that  they  really 
cared  anything  for  those  smoky  old  pictures  and  musty  books.  Perhaps 
there  was  a  plot  to  steal  the  crown  jewels. 

With  all  his  vigilance,  however,  he  could  not  discover  anything  Impli- 
cating the  ladies,  until  the  latter  part  of  the  winter,  when  a  mysterious 
letter  arrived  from  Captain  Muller,  in  which  he  referred  to  a  plot  which 
they  had  entered  into  with  him,  and  inquired  as  to  its  success.  The 
plot,  of  course,  was  Melicent's  promise  to  induce  Sallie  to  join  her  in 
St.  Petersburg  ;  but,  as  the  Melinoffs  were  intending  to  remove  for  the 
early  spring  to  their  villa  at  Yalta,  in  the  Crimea,  Captain  Muller  sug- 
gested that  they  should  all  meet  at  the  pretty  residence  of  the  countess, 
and  begged  Melicent  to  co-operate  with  him  in  urging  Sallie  and  Alice 
to  accept  his  sister's  invitation.  If  the  captain  had  only  spoken  of  all 
this  in  plain  language,  Dimitri  would  have  thought  nothing  of  it ;  but 
the  word  plot  revived  his  flagging  suspicions. 

It  so  chanced  that  a  letter  from  Sallie  fanned  the  flame :  she  spoke 
of  the  political  situation  in  Bulgaria,  and  begged  that  Melicent  would 
let  her  know  whether  there  was  any  hope  that  the  Czar  would  take  up 


1 66 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


the  matter,  and  declare  war  against  the  Turks.  It  chanced  that  Dimitri 
was  cleaning-  the  windows  of  Mrs.  Davenport's  boudoir  when  this  letter 
arrived,  and  did  not  have  his  usual  opportunity  of  a  first  perusal ;  but 
when  Melicent  locked  it  away  in  her  desk,  one  leaf  fluttered  to  the 
floor,  and  this  he  secured.  The  closing  lines  on  the  page  ran  as 
follows  :  — 

"  You  know  that  I  have  always  disapproved  of  bloodshed,  but  some- 
times it  seems  the  only  check  to  tyranny,  and  so  if  the  Czar  "  — 

Could       anything 


be  more  conclusive  ? 
^lelicent  was  cer- 
tainly engaged  in  a 
plot  to  assassinate  the 
Emperor. 

He  now  watched 
Melicent  more  care- 
fully than  ever,  and 
searched  her  trunks 
for  dynamite  bombs, 
and  other  infernal  ma- 
chines. One  day,  he 
The  circumstance  was 


A    SUSPICIOUS    INTERVIEW, 


saw  her  speaking  to  a  woman  in  the  park, 
natural  enough,  for  the  woman  was  a  fellow-student;  but  Dimitri  started 
with  exultation  :  it  was  the  first  time  that  either  of  the  ladies  had  held 
any  communication  with  a  "  suspect."  He  strolled  behind  them  in  an 
agony  of  curiosity.  If  he  could  only  hear  one  word  of  their  conversa- 
tion !  and  presently  he  did  hear  it.  The  woman's  manner  was  excited  : 
she  gesticulated  violently,  but  spoke  in  so  low  a  tone  that  Dimitri, 
losing  his  caution,  approached  nearer,  and  heard  her  distinctly  utter  the 
name,  "  Natocha  Melniketzky !  "  It  was  evident  to  Dimitri  that  this 
woman  had  recognized  Melicent  as  the  Nihilist  that  she  had  all  alonsj 
been    suspected   to   be.     This   sudden   discovery  quite  took   away  his 


ST.   PETERSBURG. 


167 


senses,  and  deprived  him  of  die  power  of  immediate  action,  and,  when 
MeHcent  turned  and  recognized  him,  as  she  immediately  cHd,  he  could 
only  stammer  that  the  carriage  was  waiting  for  her  at  the  corner. 
MeHcent  offered  to  take  her  friend  home,  but  she  declined  the  kind- 
ness, and  stole  swiftly  away. 

Dimitri  drove  his  mistress  home,  cursing  his  own  stupidity  in  not  at 
once  throwing  off  his  disguise,  and  arresting  both  women.  This 
stranger  who  had  temporarily  escaped  him  would  be  a  most  valuable 
witness  against  Melicent,  and  now  he  must  wait  until  he  could  secure 
her. 

So  all  winter  Dimitri  wove  his  web,  like  a  malicious  spider,  and  the 
unsuspecting  Melicent,  fluttered  cheerfully  about  within  the  toils. 


l58  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND   TURKEY. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


BALKAN    ROSES. 


THE  winter  was  over,  and  spring,  which  comes  early  to  the  Turkish 
principaHties,  had  covered  the  land  with  beauty. 
The  letter  containing  Captain  MUller's  declaration  had  been  followed 
by  many  others.  It  had  traversed  the  Atlantic  to  Sallie's  parents,  and 
had  returned  with  the  news  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benton  would  join  their 
daughter  in  Russia  in  the  summer.  Sallie  wished  them  to  pass  their 
judgment  upon  her  friend  before  an  engagement  was  entered  upon;  for 
to  her  an  engagement  was  a  very  sacred  thing,  and  not  to  be  rushed 
into  until  after  a  season  of  probation  and  thorough  acquaintance,  where- 
in both  parties  might  become  very  sure  that  their  union  was  wise. 
Captain  Mijller  —  captain  no  longer,  but,  through  her  influence,  simple 
Herr  Miiller  —  had  consented  to  this,  begging  that  she  Avould  visit 
during  the  coming  summer  with  his  sister,  the  Countess  Melinoff. 
The  countess  had  sent  Sallie  and  Alice  most  sisterly  invitations,  which 
had  been  accepted,  though  the  time  of  their  going  was  continually  put 
off  by  Alice,  who  could  hardly  be  induced  to  take  any  vacation.  Sallie, 
too,  was  erowine  more  and  more  interested  in  her  work.  She  could 
hardly  believe  the  stories  of  cruelty  and  oppression  which  were  told 
her,  they  seemed  so  at  variance  with  the  smiling  aspect  of  all  nature. 
She  had  wished  to  make  a  picture  of  a  Bulgarian  shepherd,  guarding 
his  flock  in  the  fields,  —  the  man  was  so  picturesque  in  his  black  astra- 
chan  cap  and  his  great-coat  of  sheepskin,  with  the  wool  turned  inside, 
and  the  outer  surface  ornamented  with  an  applique  pattern  in  red  cloth. 
The  man  had  advised  her  not  to  paint  in  the  fields.      "  The  Turks  come 


BALKAN  ROSES. 


169 


sometimes,"  he  said.  "  I  will  pose  for  you  in  the  courtyard  of  the 
school  to-morrow." 

"  And  you  will  bring  some  sheep,  and  hold  one  of  the  lambs  in 
your  arms,  as  you  do  now  ? "  she  asked.  The  attitude,  as  well  as  the 
costume,  had  struck  her,  it  seemed  so  appropriate  to  the  man's  name, 
which  was  Kristo. 

But  the  shepherd  did  not  come  in  the  morning,  and  Marika  told 
her  that  his  body  had  been  found  beside  the  well,  where  he  had  been 
watering  his  flock.  The  sign  of  the  cross,  cut  deeply  in  the  forehead 
of  the  murdered  man  by  two  sword-gashes,  told  that  the  crime  had 
been  committed  by  some  one  who  hated  him  because  he  was  a  Christian. 
Kristo's  sons  suspected  a  Turkish  neighbor,  who  had  immediately  seized 
upon  the  sheep  ;  but,  when  they  made  complaint  to  the  Cadi,  the  man 
asserted  not  only  that  the  sheep  were  his  own,  but  that  he  had  seen 
the  two  boys  commit  the  murder.  They  were,  accordingly,  thrown  into 
prison.  That  they  were  not  at  once  beheaded  proved  that  the  Cadi 
did  not  give  entire  credence  to  the  testimony. 

While  the  missionaries  sympathized  with  the  oppressed  people,  they 
realized  that  they  held  the  little  foothold  which  they  had  gained  in  the 
country  through  the  sufferance  of  the  Turkish  Government,  and  that 
they  were  bound  to  take  no  part  in  politics.  But  Sallie  felt  that  she 
was  not  so  bound  ;  and  the  more  she  saw  of  Turkish  misrule,  the  more 
indignant  she  became. 

Her  first  acquaintances,  Katarinka  and  Marika,  were  still  her 
favorites.  The  family  had  settled  near  the  school,  and  the  father  was 
attempting  to  carry  on  his  trade  as  a  weaver  of  rugs.  Every  operation 
in  their  manufacture,  from  the  raising  of  the  eoats  for  the  hair,  was 
performed  by  some  member  of  the  family.  The  youngest  child  watched 
the  little  flock,  the  girls  spun  the  yarn,  the  mother,  a  second  Lydia, 
prepared  the  dye-stuffs,  and  the  father  wove.  The  colors  were  very 
beautiful,  and  the  recipes  used  in  the  dyeing  were  a  secret,  handed 
down  in  the  family,   perhaps  from  the  very  Lydia  of  I1i\atira  whose 


I-O  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

I)urplc  dye-stuff  was  so  beautiful  that  Paul  especially  refers  to  it.  Sallie 
had  l)een  struck  l)y  the  rich  colors  when  she  first  bought  the  yarn  from 
the  oirls  at  Ragusa,  and  was  still  more  delighted  by  the  tasteful  combi- 
nations shown  in  the  finished  rugs. 

"  You  ought  to  make  a  good  living,"  she  said  to  the  weaver ;  "  for 
these  prayer-rugs  are  very  popular  in  Constantinople,  and  sell  in  the 
bazaars  for  a  high  price." 

"  I  should  get  along  very  well,"  he  explained,  "  if  it  w^ere  not  for 
the  taxes.  Look  at  my  goats.  They  are  first  taxed  as  live-stock  ;  then 
their  milk  is  taxed  ;  their  hair  is  taxed  when  it  is  clipped,  and,  again,  if 
I  sell  it  as  yarn,  the  dye-stuffs  are  taxed,  and  the  finished  rugs  must 
pay  one-fifth  to  the  Crown,  one-fifth  to  the  Pasha  governing  this  pasha- 
lik,  and  another  fifth  as  a  special  military  tax.  Then,  last  spring,  I 
happened  to  make  a  very  handsome  rug,  and  the  Pasha  took  a  fancy 
to  it,  and  bought  it  at  his  own  valuation.  Why  did  I  not  object? 
There  w^as  the  bastinado.  Everything  that  w^e  buy  is  taxed  —  our  food, 
clothing,  the  house  we  live  in,  every  fruit-tree  in  the  garden.  It  is  a 
wonder  how  we  live." 

Sallie  wondered,  too.  "Why  do  you  remain  in  such  a  country?" 
she  asked. 

The  weaver  shrugged  his  shoulders  patiently.  "  Where  can  we  do 
better?  And  the  school,  the  school  makes  up  for  much.  I  w^ould 
suffer  anything  for  my  daughters.  Trajan  Evanova  is  a  w^orthy  man, 
and  I  hope  soon  to  see  Marika  happily  settled  in  life." 

Easter  was  celebrated  in  Samokov  with  less  rejoicing  than  is  usual 
in  the  Greek  Church.  The  steel  bars,  which  take  the  place  of  bells, 
were  beaten  in  the  belfries,  and  the  people  greeted  one  another  with 
the  exclamation,  "  Christus  vuskj'usny  !"  ("Christ  is  risen!")  and 
the  reply,  "  Vuski'iisny  naeesteena  /"  (  "  He  is  risen  indeed  !  ")  But 
their  Turkish  neighbors  scowled  in  a  way  w^hich  boded  no  good,  and 
the  examination  and  exhibition  of  the  mission-school  were  hastened  b)' 
rumors   of   cominor  trouble.     These  exercises  were  very  creditable  to 


BALKAN  ROSES. 


173 


the  school,  many  Turkish  officials  of  high  rank  attending,  some  out  of 
curiosity  possibly,  but  others  from  genuine  interest.  One  pasha,  of 
noble  bearing,  who  had  long  shown  himself  friendly  to  the  missionaries, 
advised  them  privately  that  the  scholars  should  be  sent  to  their  homes, 
and  that  the  teachers  should  leave  the  country  at  once.  "  It  will  not 
be  a  safe  place  for  ladies  much  longer,"  was  his  warning.  Two  of  the 
lady  teachers  took  the  train  for 
Constantinople. 

Trajan  Evanova  had  insisted 
that  the  family  of  his  betrothed 
should  spend  the  summer  with 
his  parents  at  Batak,  as  this  Bal-  !<^:57^^ 
kan  village  was  so  far  removed 
from  the  larger  towns  and  ordi- 
nary  routes  of  travel  that  it  seemed 
to  ofifer  a  safe  harbor  from  any 
tidal  wave  of  war  which  mio-ht  ...^v  ^ 
sweep  across  the  country. 

Sallie  and  Alice  were  besought 
to  visit  with  them,  and  to  remain 
until  after  Marika's  wedding,  and 
decided  to  do  so,  as  the  wedding 
was  to  occur  in  a  few  days.     Gus, 

after  his  tour  with  James  Osborne,  had  settled  at  the  boys'  school 
at  Philippopolis,  where  he  was  reading  the  "Odyssey"  with  a  native 
Greek.  His  school  had  not  closed,  and  Sallie  thought  it  a  good 
plan  to  fill  in  the  interval,  while  awaiting  him,  by  making  this  visit. 
They  made  the  trip  in  the  jolting  wagons  of  the  country ;  but  the 
slopes  of  the  Balkans  were  beautiful  with  wild-flowers,  and  much 
of  the  way  they  were  climbing  the  mountain-paths  in  advance  of 
their  rude  vehicles.  The  wild  rose  grew  in  abundance,  and  they 
were  told  that  many  of  the  mountain-girls  earned  their  livelihood  by 


THE    ROSE    HARVEST. 


1/4 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 


collecting  the  roses,  and  distilling  the  precious  attar,  for  which  Turkey 
is  so  justly  tamed.  The  girls  themselves  were  true  roses,  with  soft, 
petal-like  cheeks  and  deep,  gentle  eyes.  As  they  fluttered  by,  Sallie 
distinctly  perceived  the  scent  of  the  roses.  Batak  itself  was  situated 
on  a  spur  of  the  mountains,  along  a  dashing  stream,  which  turned  the 
wheels  of  many  saw-mills.  A  church,  with  a  little  graveyard,  stood  in 
the  centre  of  the  village,  and  a  large  schoolhouse  was  well  filled  with 
pupils.  The  houses  were  very  simple.  Trajan's  parents  had  secured 
one  for  the  famil)-  of  the  weaver.  It  was  built  of  basket-work,  plastered 
within  and  without  with  mud,  and  whitewashed.  The  roof  was  of 
curved  red  tiles,  making  a  very  picturesque  appearance.  The  principal 
apartment  served  partly  as  kitchen  and  partly  as  stable,  and  the  flicker- 
ing firelight  fell  on  the  sporting  children,  while  the  cows  munched  their 
fodder  in  the  shadowy  corners.  Sallie,  tired  as  she  was  from  her 
journey,  took  out  her  sketching  material.  "It  is  like  the  stable  at 
Bethlehem,"  she  said  to  Alice. 

The  room  assigned  to  the  }'Oung  Americans  was  newly  whitewashed 
and  clean.  Their  couch  was  formed  of  rugs,  spread  on  fragrant  hay. 
They  spent  several  days  in  this  interesting  village,  and  during  their 
stay  Marika's  marriage  was  celebrated,  Trajan  urging  that  he  was  about 
to  join  the  Bulgarian  legion,  and  that  he  might  be  killed.  "  If  so,"  he 
said,  "  I  wish  to  leave  Marika  my  goldsmith-shop  and  other  property." 

The  wedding  ceremonies  w^ere  very  curious.  It  was  performed  by 
the  "  pope,"  as  the  village  priest  was  called,  and,  after  the  marriage  in 
the  church,  there  was  a  dance  on  the  village  green,  to  the  music  of  a 
bagpipe.  Trajan's  presents  were  carried  to  his  bride  by  a  procession 
of  Iriends.  The  wedding  feast  consisted  of  many  courses,  served  on  a 
long  table,  raised  only  six  inches  from  the  floor,  on  which  the  guests 
sat,  for  there  were  no  chairs.  The  pottery  was  classical  in  shape,  and 
brightly  decorated,  and  the  coffee  was  served  from  a  brazen  coffee-pot 
of  beautiful  shape. 

It  was  with  sincere  regret  that  Sallie  and  Alice  parted,  a  few  da)s 


BALKAN  ROSES. 


177 


later,  from  their  Bulgarian  friends.  The  last  picture  which  Sallie  had 
of  them  showed  ths  pretty  bride  standing  in  the  doorway,  with  tears  in 
her  eyes,  as  she  threw  kisses  toward  them.  Trajan  left  with  the 
American  girls,  intending  to  conduct  them  to  the  nearest  railway  station, 
and  then  to  rejoin  his  regiment.  They  found,  however,  that  the  trains 
had  been  stopped,  and 
the  rails  torn  up,  for  the 
Sultan  had  been  using 
the  road  to  send  troops 
into  the  country.  Trajan 
looked  very  grave  :  this 
measure  could  only  de- 
lay for  a  short  time  the 
arrival  of  the  Turkish 
forces.  The  outbreak 
had  begun,  and  this 
action  of  the  Bulg-arians 
would  furnish  the  Turks 
with  an  excuse  for  cruel 
reprisals. 

They  had  continued  . 
their  journey  toward 
Philippopolis  but  a  few 
miles,  when  they  were 
met  by  fleeing  peasants 
and  townspeople. 

"  You  are  mad  to  go  in  that  direction,"  one  of  them  said. 
Turks  are  momentarily  expected." 

Trajan    turned    the    horses.      "We    must    drive    to    Samokov,"    he 
explained. 

"  But  my  brother!  "  Sallie  exclaimed. 

More  questioning  of  the  refugees  elicited  the  fact  that  he  had  left 


PRINCESS    NATHALIE. 


The 


1/8 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


Philippopolis  the  day  before  with  a  gentleman  whom  SalHe  surmised' to 
be  James  Osborne.  She  decided  at  once  that  he  had  gone  to  Samokov 
to  find  her,  and  toward  Samokov  they  immediately  hastened.  Pausing 
at  Tatar  Bazardjik  to  change  horses,  they  were  met  at  the  inn-door  by 

Gus  and  Mr.  Humphrey. 
Gus  reported  that  James 
Osborne,  having  accom- 
panied him  thus  far,  had 
placed  him  in  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey's care,  and  had 
himself  gone  to  Batak  in 
much  anxiety  as  to  the 
safety  of  the  two  girls,  as 
he  had  heard  that  Achmet 
Azha  was  marching  in 
that  direction  with  his 
terrible  Bashi-Bazouks. 
Trajan  Evanova,  on  re- 
ceiving this  information, 
rushed  away  without  bid- 
^  ding  them  farewell,  lash- 
ing his  jaded  horse  into 
a  furious  gallop. 

"  You  are  only  just 
in  time  to  escape  from  the  country  by  the  north."  said  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey. "  Even  now  you  may  be  cut  off.  You  cannot  leave  by  the 
west  or  northwest,  for  Servia  and  Montenegro  have  at  last  united 
in  declaring  war  against  Turkey,  Prince  Milan  and  Prince  Nicholas 
having  come  to  a  definite  agreement.  No  passenger  steamers  ply 
up  and  down  the  Danube  at  present,  for  the  river  is  blockaded  and 
fortified  by  both  Servians  and  Turks.  Nor  can  you  leave  the  country 
by  way  of  Constantinople,  for  the  Turkish  troops  are  on  the  march 


— 

PRINCE    MILAN    IV.    OF    SERVIA. 


BALKAN  ROSES. 


179 


SERVIAN. 


from  that  direction  for  Servia,  and  are  committing  frightful  ravages  on 

the  way.     They  are  desolating  the  country  about  Philippopolis.     I  hear 

of  whole  villagfes  burned,  their  inhabitants 

indiscriminately  massacred.     Achmet  Azha, 

with  his  Bashi-Bazouks,  is  dashing  in  every 

direction,  pillaging  and  slaughtering  in  the 

district  south  and  southeast   of  us.     They 

may  be  at  Samokov  in  a  day  or  two.     Your 

only  possible  way  of  escape  is  by  the  north- 
east.     I  will  escort  you   to   our  friends  at 

Eski   Zagra.     They  will   help  you  to  cross 

the  Balkans  by  the  Shipka  Pass.     You  will 

probably    find    the    country    north    of   the 

Balkans    quiet,    and    your    next    step    will 

be    to    cross    the    Danube    at    Rustchuk, 

and    proceed    to    Bucharest,    from     which 

point  you    have   rail    communication    with    every   part    of    Europe." 
There  was  no  time  for  hesitation  ;  and  Alice,  Sallie,  and  Gus,  led  by 

the  brave  missionary,  whose  horseback  tours 
as  a  colporteur  had  frequently  taken  him 
over  this  part  of  the  country,  were  soon 
fleeing  through  the  panic-stricken  district 
to  Eski  Zagra,  at  the  foot  of  Shipka  Pass, 
the  Sfate  through  the  northern  rano-e  of  the 
Balkans.  The  wave  of  war  had  not  actually 
reached  this  beautiful  region,  and  the  in- 
habitants were  continuing  their  peaceful 
ivocations. 

They  were  hospitably  entertained  by  the 
missionaries,  and  urged  to  rest  for  a  few 
days,  and  obtain   necessary  passports,  and 

make  other  preparations  for  their  journey.     Sallie  wrote  to  her  parents 


i;;;o  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

from  this  point,  announcing  her  intention  of  meeting  them  at  Moscow. 
It  was  hard,  however,  to  induce  AHce  to  continue  the  journey.  "  I 
am  sure  that  1  can  be  of  use  here,"  she  said,  "  and  I  would  much  rather 
remain." 

But  on  the  third  day  James  Osborne  arrived.  He  had  ridden  hard, 
and,  although  nearly  exhausted,  was  in  a  fever  of  impatience  for  them 
to  leave  the  country  with  him. 

"  You  do  not  know  what  I  have  seen,"  he  repeated  continually. 
"  You  must  not  wait  for  papers,  or  for  anything  else,  but  must  come 
with  me  at  once.  I  can  get  you  through  to  Bucharest,  I  am  confident, 
if  we  start  at  once  ;  but  every  hour  diminishes  the  chance." 

On  applying  for  a  conveyance  to  take  them  across  the  mountains, 
they  were  informed  that  the  Turks  had  fortified  Shipka  Pass,  and  had 
stopped  all  travel  over  the  Balkans. 

"Then  we  are  really  hemmed  in  on  all  sides!  "  Sallie  exclaimed,  in 
despair. 

"  V^ery  well,"  Alice  replied  calmly,  "  I  have  been  averse  all  along  to 
running  away.  You  know  Jesus  said,  '  W^hen  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and 
rumors  of  wars,  be  ye  not  troubled,'  but  '  in  your  patience  possess  ye 
your  souls.'  We  will  stay  right  here,  and  accept  whatever  fortune 
comes  to  these  poor  people." 

'•  By  your  leave,"  Sallie  replied,  "  you  do  not  know  what  you 
are  talking  about,  and  we  will  do  nothing  of  the  sort.  In  speak- 
ing of  those  very  wars,  Jesus  told  his  followers  to  '  flee  to  the 
mountains.' " 

"Yes,"  added  Gus,  "and  to  do  it  pretty  lively,  too  —  not  even  to 
stop  to  take  anything  out  of  the  house,  or  to  pick  up  his  overcoat,  if 
he  was  in  the  field.  You  don't  catch  me  loafing  around  to  do  the 
martyr  business,  —  that's  certain." 

Alice  still  demurred,  but  James  Osborne  said  gravely,  "This  is  no 
time  or  place  for  hesitation.  I  have  left  a  country  where  thousands  of 
men,  women,   and  children   are  beinor  butchered  in   cold  blood,   after 


BALKAN  ROSES.  jgj 

having  laid  down  their  arms.  I  have  seen  sights  too  horrible  to  tell. 
You  must  come,  if  we  have  to  carry  you  away  by  force." 

"  I  wish  we  had  remained  at  Batak,"  said  Alice,  with  cheerful  confi- 
dence, "  for  we  can  feel  certain  that,  at  least,  Marika  and  Katarinka  are 
quite  safe." 

James  Osborne  hesitated.  "I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  kind  to 
undeceive  you  ;  but  I  reached  Batak  shortly  after  Achmet  Azha  left  it. 
Isolated  as  the  town  is,  it  did  not  escape  him,  and  he  left  it  a  charnel- 
house.  The  people  gave  up  their  arms,  and  were  massacred,  while 
unresisting  children  were  burned  alive  in  the  schoolhouse,  and  over  two 
hundred  young  girls  were  beheaded,  their  bodies  piled  in  one  great 
heap.  I  see  no  reason  to  hope  that  your  friends  were  not  among  the 
number,  for  the  town  was  completely  surprised.  I  cannot  tell  you  half 
the  sickening  story  ;  but  the  entire  population  of  that  beautiful  town 
was  wiped  out  in  one  dreadful  massacre,  of  which  history  hardly 
contains  a  parallel." 

Alice  turned  deadly  pale.  "  I  will  go,"  she  said  simply.  "  You  are 
right :  we  can  do  nothing  till  this  horror  is  overpast." 

James  Osborne  prosecuted  his  inquiries  in  regard  to  the  route  with 
vigor.  "  There  must  be  other  passes  across  the  mountains  known  to 
the  peasants,"  he  said. 

Inquiry  was  made,  and  a  young  Bible-reader  was  found  who  had 
journeyed  as  a  colporteur  in  the  mountains.  He  knew  of  a  disused 
pass  not  far  from  Kezanlik.  It  was  hardly  practicable  for  a  wagon,  he 
feared,  but  was  a  safe  road  for  saddle-horses.  The  wagon  was  accord- 
ingly left  behind,  and  the  party  proceeded  on  horseback,  with  a  pack- 
mule  for  baggage.  The  girls  had  tried  Turkish  horses  before,  and 
found  their  gait  an  easy  one.  They  take  high  steps,  and  bear  their 
heads  proudly,  with  a  sort  of  processional  march  as  though  keeping 
time  to  music.  Kezanlik  —  o-arden  of  roses  —  was  embowered  with 
flowers.  Rumors  of  war  had  not  reached  it  with  any  terrifying  force, 
and  all  was  quiet  and  peaceful.     Their  guide  led  them  straight  toward 


l82 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


the  mountain  wall.  "  Surely  there  is  no  possibility  of  scaling  that 
perpendicular  cliff,"  said  Sallie  ;  but  a  little  divergence  to  the  right 
disclosed  a  gorge,  with  the  nearly  dry  bed  of  a  torrent,  up  which  they 
mounted  with  perfect  ease.  Ferns  grew  beside  them,  trees  sometimes 
arched  over  their  heads,  and  in  profusion  on  every  hand  grew  the 
Balkan  and  Damascus  roses.  On  each  side  the  mountains  rose,  casting 
their  cool  shadows  and  making  the  ride  a  very  pleasant  one.  A  little 
past  noon  they  gained  the  summit,  and  looked  back  for  a  farewell 
glance  at  Bulgaria.  Kezanlik  and  Eski  Zagra  were  in  full  view,  their 
white  walls  glistening  in  the  sun.  Very  peaceful  and  beautiful  they 
looked.  "  It  does  not  seem  possible,"  said  Alice,  "  that  war  can  find 
them  here." 

"  You  do  not  know  the  Turks,"  James  Osborne  replied.  "  Batak 
was  in  as  fair  a  region  as  this,  and  it  has  been  left  a  horror  of  blood, 
fire,  and  smoke." 

"  How  horrible  !  "  shuddered  Sallie.     "  Is  there  no  remedy?" 

"  None  but  that  of  war.  None  unless  the  Russians  march  down 
and  sweep  the  Turks  out  of  the  provinces  and  into  Asia." 

Sallie  was  silent.  Were  all  her  dreams  of  arbitration  and  peace  on 
earth  a  mere  phantasm,  —  a  heavenly  mirage  for  which  the  world  was 
not  ready  ?     It  seemed  so,  but  it  was  very  hard  to  give  the  theories  up. 

They  had  descended  the  northern  slope  of  the  Balkans,  and 
received  shelter  for  the  nioht  in  a  convent  of  nuns  of  the  Greek 
Church,  who  are  allowed  far  more  privileges  than  their  Roman  Catholic 
sisters. 

They  were  much  interested  in  the  dress  of  the  two  young  Ameri- 
can women,  and  especially  in  the  different  fashion  of  wearing  the  veil. 

"Turkish  women,"  they  said,  "cover  their  mouths  carefully,  and 
only  expose  their  eyes.  You,  on  the  contrary,  shroud  your  eyes  in 
mystery,  and  leave  your  lips  temptingly  exposed.  This  would  seem  to 
them  very  immodest ;  but  we  know  that  a  woman's  safeguard  is  not  in 
the  way  in  which  she  wears  her  veil,  but  her  own  behavior." 


BALKAN  ROSES. 


i8- 


From  the  convent  they  rode  to  the  village  of  Gabrova,  where  the 
inhabitants  eagerly  inquired  the  news  from  the  south. 

Many  of  the  young  men  had  crossed  into  Servia,  to  join  the  army 
of  Prince  Milan. 

"  You  are  going  north,"  the  older  men  said.  "  Tell  our  story  to  the 
Czar ;   ask  him  to  come  and  help  us." 

"  I  will  tell  it  to  the  best  of  my  ability,"  James  Osborne  promised, 
"  and  by  God's  help  I 
will  come  again,  and, 
when  I  come,  the  Rus- 
sian army  will  be  with 
me. 

Through  every  town 
as  they  passed  it  was  the 
same  thing.  "  Tell  Al- 
exander."— "  Ask  Alex- 
ander to  come  and  help 
us." 

There  were  Turkish 
officials  in  every  town 
and  village,  who  might  have  stopped  their  progress,  but  for  the  friend- 
liness of  the  peasants,  who  furnished  them  with  fresh  horses,  with  food 
and  shelter,  and  with  guidance.  Mr.  Osborne  was  arrested  at  Tirnova, 
but  he  was  released  on  examination  of  his  credentials,  and  they  reached 
the  Danube  in  safety.  Here  they  were  disappointed  to  find  that  all 
crossing  had  been  prohibited,  and  that  a  Turkish  gunboat  lay  at  anchor 
to  enforce  this  order. 

"We  might  attempt  it  at  night,"  Sallie  suggested;  but  James 
Osborne  shook  his  head.  They  were  at  the  village  inn,  and  suddenly 
an  unusual  bustle  and  tramping  were  heard  in  an  adjoining  room. 
A  waitress  popped  Into  the  apartment  occupied  by  the  young 
ladies,    and    announced    that    the    Pasha    in    command    of   the    gun- 


TWO    WAYS    OF    WEARING    VEILS. 


1 84 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


boat  had  come  on  shore  with   some   of  his  officers,  and  was  dining 
at  their  inn. 

"  He    is    a    European,"    she    explained,   "  a    renegade,    who    has 
embraced  Mohammedanism,  and  has  been  rewarded  with  high  office." 


BUCHAREST. 


"  If  he  is  a  European,"  SalHe  suggested,  "  he  might  be  incHned 
to  let  us  pass.     I  think  we  had  better  ask  for  an  interview." 

This  daring  proposition  was  accepted  by  the  party.  James  Osborne's 
card  was  sent  in,  and  the  servant  returned  saying  that  the  Pasha  would 
receive  not  only  the  newspaper  correspondent,  but  the  entire  party. 
They  were  ushered  into  the  presence.  Alice  saw  only  a  pale-faced 
man  in  Eastern  dress,  who  kept    his    face    slightly  averted,   and    Mr. 


BALKAN  ROSES. 


1S5 


Osborne,  bowing  respectfully,  had  begun  his  address,  when  Sallie 
suddenly  exclaimed,  "  Mr.   Norcross  !  " 

It  was  indeed  the  secretary,  who  looked  up  with  a  strange  expres- 
sion of  shamefacedness  and  triumph.  Sallie  recognized  only  the  first, 
and  disregarding  his  proffered  hand,  turned  haughtily  from  him  and 
left  the  room.  Mr.  Norcross  flushed  deeply.  "  I  might  revenge 
myself  for  this  insult,"  he  said  to  Mr.  Osborne,  "  by  refusing  your 
request,  but  I  will  try  to  show  you  that  I  am  not  such  a  bad  fellow 
after  all.  Here  is  a  written  order  for  a  boatman  to  take  you  across 
the  river.  Show  this  handkerchief  as  a  flag,  and  you  will  not  be  fired 
upon." 

"  I  thank  you  for  this  favor,"  Mr.  Osborne  replied,  "  but  I  cannot 
help  lamenting  the  step  which  you  have  taken." 

Mr.  Norcross  waved  his  hand  airily.  "  Your  lamentations  are  quite 
gratuitous,"  he  sneered.  "  Your  sympathies  appear  to  be  on  the  other 
side.  If  you  will  take  up  arms  we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  another 
sort  of  meeting." 

"  So  be  it,"  James  Osborne  replied  gravely. 

It  was  hard  for  Sallie  to  bring  herself  to  accept  the  courtesy  which 
Mr.  Norcross  had  offered,  but  she  was  prevailed  upon  to  do  so  by 
Alice,  who  argued  that,  as  she  had  yielded  to  Sallie's  urgent  demand 
for  flight,  it  was  now  her  friend's  turn  to  give  up  something. 

Another  day  brought  them  to  Bucharest,  a  city  which,  while  it 
possesses  mosques  with  domes  and  minarets,  boasts  also  railway- 
stations,  the  telegraph,  hotels,  and  European  shops.  As  Gus  remarked, 
they  were  at  last  safely  in  Europe ;  but  they  were  not  tempted  to 
delay ;  and  without  pausing  to  rest  from  their  journey,  they  hastily  took 
the  next  train  for  Moscow. 


j<;5  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

MOSCOW,    NIJNI-NOVGOROD,    AXD    THE    CRIMEA. 

IT  was  summer  also  in  St.  Petersburg,  and  Mrs.  Davenport  and  her 
daughter  were  preparing  to  leave  the  city.  Without  knowing  that 
Sallie  and  Alice  were  on  their  way  to  Moscow,  they  had  also  planned 
to  spend  a  part  of  the  summer  in  the  ancient  city.  The  Melinoffs  had 
arranged  to  go  with  them ;  for  Sallie  had  at  last  definitely  set  the  time 
of  her  visit,  promising  to  join  the  countess  in  the  autumn,  at  her  beau- 
tiful villa  at  Yalta,  in  the  Crimea. 

Fortunately  for  the  Davenports,  Dimitri  Dimitrievitch  brought  his 
machinations  to  a  crisis,  at  a  time  when  their  friends  were  able  to 
defend  them,  or  they  might  have  been  compelled  to  take  a  much  longer 
journey,  and  have  visited  a  far  different  portion  of  Russia  than  the 
smilinof  Crimea. 

Count  Feodor  Melinoff  happened  to  be  in  the  bureau  of  the  chief 
of  the  Gendarmes,  when  Dimitri  brought  in  the  letters  from  Captain 
Miiller  and  Sallie,  which  were  to  be  used  as  evidence  that  Melicent 
was  a  Nihilist.  He  listened  carelessly  to  the  detective's  report.  Two 
letters  containing  positive  evidence  against  the  suspect,  Natocha 
Melniketzky.  "Good!"  said  the  officer.  "The  young  woman  was 
arrested  this  morning,  and  is  now  in  prison,  awaiting  her  examination. 
I  am  glad  to  have  some  additional  testimon)-,  for  the  evidence  already 
received  is  not  at  all  conclusive.  You  are  relieved  from  duty  on  that 
case,  and  will  receive  another." 

Dimitri  passed  into  the  next  office  for  future  orders.  He  was 
somewhat  surprised  to  learn  that  ?*Ielicent  was  alread)-  arrested.  Some 
other   detective    must    have    been    upon   her   track,   he    thought.      He 


^^1  Ij"!  I'    7  11   !    lI''''!'''"'jJ|iT 

Bffi,ii„;„ s.lil'Hl 


ALEXANDER    II.,  CZAR    OF    RUSSIA. 


MOSCOIV,  NIJNI-NOVGOROD,    AND    THE   CRIMEA.  jgo 

wondered  if  Mrs,  Davenport  were  also  in  custody,  but  concluded  that, 
all  things  considered,  he  would  not  return  to  the  hotel  to  ascertain. 

Meantime  the  count  had  been  struck  by  something  familiar  in 
Dimitri's  face  ;  and  as  his  eye  fell  on  the  letters  lying  before  the  officer, 
he  suddenly  recognized  the  handwriting  of  his  brother-in  law,  Captain 
Miiller.     "  Who  did  you  say  has  just  been  arrested  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Natocha  Melniketzky,  who  has  been  masquerading  under  the 
assumed  name  of  Melicent  Davenport." 

"  Impossible  !  "  exclaimed  the  count.  "  I  know  the  young  lady 
well." 

"  Here  is  the  evidence.     Can  you  disprove  it  ?  " 

Count  Melinoff  read  the  letters  hastily.  "  Fortunately,  I  can,"  he 
replied.  "  One  is  from  my  wife's  brother,  an  ex-officer  in  the  German 
army,  whose  entire  career  is  well  known.  The  '  plot '  to  which  he 
refers  is  perfectly  clear ;  in  fact,  it  is  explained  farther  on.  It  is  simply 
a  desire  of  his  to  have  my  wife  invite  his  fiancee  to  visit  us  this 
summer.  This  other  letter  is  from  the  young  lady  herself.  You  will 
see  that  she  hopes  the  Russian  Government  will  decide  to  make  war 
upon  Turkey.  There  is  nothing  revolutionary  in  that.  Your '  evidence ' 
amounts  to  nothine." 

The  officer  listened  carefully,  and  re-read  the  letters.  "  I  believe 
you  are  right,"  he  said.      "  Will  you  make  this  explanation  in  writing  ?" 

"Certainly;  and  will  make  myself  personally  responsible  for  the 
good  behavior  of  this  young  lady,  whom  we  are  about  to  take  with  us 
to  the  Crimea." 

The  officer  promised  that  the  matter  should  receive  immediate 
attention,  and  the  count  returned  to  his  home  much  excited.  "  My 
dear!  "  he  exclaimed,  as  he  stormed  into  his  wife's  boudoir,  "  have  you 
heard  the  news  ?  Our  friend,  Miss  Davenport,  has  been  arrested  as  a 
suspect." 

"  Impossible  !  "  exclaimed  the  countess.  "  Calm  yourself,  my  dear. 
You  have  been  misinformed." 


190 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


"  But  I  tell  you  that  I  have  just  come  from  the  Bureau  of  the  Police, 
and  that  Melicent  is  now  in  prison,  awaiting  exile." 

"  Melicent  has  just  been   here,"  replied  the  countess.      "  She  left 
the  house  but  a  moment  ago.     Look,  there  she  is  !  " 

The  count  stepped  to  the  window,  and  saw  the  well-known  figure 
of    their    friend,  in   a    stylish  costume,  just  turning  the  corner.     She 

carried  a  natty  umbrella,  with  which  she 
tapped  the  pavement  excitedly  as  she 
walked.  "  Miraculous  !  "  exclaimed  the 
count.  "  How  did  she  effect  her  es- 
cape  : 

"  She  has  not  even  been  arrested, 
but  she  came  to  see  if  anything  could 
be  done  for  a  friend  of  hers,  Natocha 
Melniketzky,  a  medical  student,  who  has 
been  thrown  into  prison  on  suspicion. 
I  told  her  that  it  was  very  dangerous 
meddling  with  such  matters  ;  and  you  al- 
ways made  it  a  point  to  keep  entirely 
aloof  from  them." 

The  count  sunk  into  an  arm-chair 
with  a  eroan.  The  countess  flew  to  his 
assistance,  and  he  finally  recovered  suf- 
^^y  ficiendy  to  explain  the  situation.  "  And 
to  think  that  I  have  become  personally 
responsible  for  this  unknown  female !  " 
he  exclaimed,  "  who  may  be  the  worst 
of  criminals." 

The    countess    laughed  merrily.     "In   that  case   console  yourself. 
She  will  not  be  released." 

"Oh,  yes,  she  will!     I  brought  all  my  influence  to  bear,  and  she 
will  probably  be  discharged." 


A    WELL-KNOWN    FIGURE. 


MOSCOW,  NIJNI-NOVGOROD,   AND    THE    CRIMEA.  jgj 

The  countess  grew  pensive.  "  I  think,  Feodor,  that  all  things 
will  work  together  for  good.  If  these  letters  were  the  only  evidence 
against  this  poor  woman,  it  was  only  just  that  they  should  be  explained, 
and  that  she  should  be  cleared." 

"  But  what  if  the  police  insist  on  exchanging  Natocha  for  Melicent, 
and  in  exiling  our  friend  ?  " 

"  The  administration  would  hardly  do  that ;  besides,  we  all  leave 
St.  Petersburg  so  soon,  that  the  police  will  hardly  have  time  to 
straighten  the  tangle  before  Melicent  will  be  out  of  their  reach." 

"  What  a  pity,"  said  the  count,  "  that  your  brother  did  not  choose 
Miss  Davenport,  instead  of  this  young  lady  who  has  such  peculiar 
notions  about  war.  I  fear  we  shall  not  find  her  so  charming  as  he 
paints  her ;  and  then,  young  ladies  with  ideas  are  very  dangerous." 

The  administration,  when  it  is  a  question  of  releasing  a  prisoner, 
works  slowly,  and  Natocha  seemed  lost  from  their  view.  Everything 
had  been  done  for  her  that  was  possible  ;  and  the  Melinoffs  and  Daven- 
ports shortly  afterward  left  the  city  in  company.  The  Melinoffs  were 
to  be  guests  of  the  Davenports,  for  a  time,  at  Moscow ;  the  countess 
having  been  persuaded  to  this  by  a  secret  which  Melicent  had  confided, 
and  which  had  also  been  intrusted  to  Sallie  and  Alice,  by  James 
Osborne.  The  long  engagement  was  to  find  its  fruition  at  last  in  a 
happy  marriage. 

Mr.  Ignatief,  whom  the  newspaper  correspondent  had  met  in 
Montenegro,  having  decided  to  enlist  in  the  Servian  war,  under  Prince 
Milan,  had  offered  the  editorship  of  his  paper  in  Moscow  to  James 
Osborne.  It  was  the  first  time,  in  many  years,  that  a  quiet  life  had 
been  possible  for  him.  He  was  wearied  with  travel,  but  this  alone 
would  not  have  decided  him.  He  saw  in  the  position  a  possibility  for 
his  long  delayed  marriage  with  Melicent,  and  for  beginning  their  home 
life.  To  Moscow,  therefore,  the  little  party  of  fugitives  from  Bulgaria 
had  come.  But  as  Sallie  and  Alice  desired  to  surprise  Melicent,  James 
Osborne  had  not  written  that  they  were  with  him. 


192  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

The  g-irls  had  gone  at  once  to  the  hotel,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benton 
were  waiting  to  meet  their  children,  —  not  without  much  anxiety,  for 
news  of  the  trouble  in  Bulgaria  had  been  telegraphed  all  over  the 
world,  and  had  reached  them  before  Sallie's  letter  from  Eski  Zagra, 
Avhich  assured  them  of  their  safety. 

Owing  to  the  influence  of  the  countess,  the  party  from  St.  Peters- 
burg took  apartments  in  the  Kremlin.  Melicent  found  the  city  even 
more  interesting  than  St.  Petersburg.  The  view  from  a  distance  was 
very  picturesque  ;  the  many  towers,  cupolas,  onion-shaped  domes  and 
minarets,  reminding  one  strongly  of  an  Oriental  city.  The  Kremlin, 
which  is  the  aristocratic  part  of  the  city,  stands  upon  a  hill,  separated 
from  the  lower  town  by  a  white  wall,  and  looking,  as  it  seemed  to  Meli- 
cent, like  a  tea-tray,  crowded  with  a  gold  and  silver  service,  flanked 
with  a  collection  of  pepper-pots  and  decanters  with  faceted  glass 
stoppers.  The  countess  had  many  friends  residing  in  the  Kremlin ; 
and  before  the  arrival  of  James  Osborne,  the  ladies  rode  from  palace 
to  palace,  admiring,  most  of  all,  the  little  casket-like  Granovitaya 
Palata,  which  contains  the  coronation  hall  of  the  czars,  Moscow, 
though  no  longer  the  capital,  is  still  a  royal  cit>' ;  and  each 
emperor  must  receive  his  consecration  here.  The  old  city  wakens 
to  new  life  on  the  occasion  of  each  coronation.  The  jewelled  plate 
is  brought  forth  from  its  vaults,  tapestries  are  unfolded,  and  velvets 
dusted,  gilding  touched  up;  visitors  flock  to  the  city;  and  all  the 
trades-people  who  thrive  upon  the  extravagance  of  the  rich,  drive  a 
flourishing  business. 

James  Osborne  arrived  ;  and  the  countess,  who  had  wished  with  all 
her  heart  that  her  brother  were  the  bridegroom-elect,  submitted  him  to 
ver)^  close  scrutiny.  A  fete  had  been  arranged  in  the  gardens  of  the 
Petrovsky  Palace,  in  the  suburbs,  which  are  thrown  open  to  the  public, 
and  the  party  drove  out  together. 

"You  know  this  is  the  palace,"  the  countess  explained,  "where 
outside  the  city  the  uncrowned  emperor  is  made  to  wait  three  days,  as 


MOSCOir,  NIJNI-XOVGOROD,   AND    THE   CRIMEA. 


193 


though  a  SLippHant  for  his  rights,  before  he  is  brought  to  the  KremHn 
for  his  coronation." 

"  I  ought  to  have  been  entertained  here,"  MeHcent  said  softly,  "  for 
I  have  come  to  the  city  to  receive  the  crowning  blessing  of  my  life,  — 
a  trust  more  sacred  than  that  of  an  empire." 


THE    GRANOVITAYA    PALACE. 

"Will  my  emperor  graciously  alight?"  said  James  Osborne,  with  a 
smile  ;  "  your  insignificant  empire  has  prepared  a  little  surprise,  to  grace 
your  coronation." 

As  he  spoke  a  lady  left  a  little  kiosk,  where  a  party  sat  around  a 
smoking  samovar,  and  Melicent  stood  face  to  face  with  Sallie.  It  was 
a  joyful  meeting  to  all.     The  countess  w^as  drawn  to  her  from  the  first, 


194 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


and  a  jo)ful  afternoon  was  passed  in  the  palace  gardens.  Very  soon, 
however,  the  conversation  took  a  serious  turn,  as  Salhe  and  Ahce  told 
of  the  horror  which  they  had  left  behind  them  ;  and  again  the  question 
was  asked,  "  What  can  be  done  to  help  these  poor  people?" 

"Nothing,"  James   Osborne  replied,   "but  to   drive  the  Turk  into 
Asia." 

"The    Russian    Government    would    like    nothino-    better    than    to 
accomplish  that  result,"  said   the   countess;    "but   the  Czar  is  only  a 

figure-head  after  all.      He  can  go  only  so 
far  as  popular  sentiment  will  let  him." 

"  Popular  sentiment  is  quite  in  that 
line,"  remarked  the  Count  Feodor.  "  Rus- 
sia desires  an  outlet  to  the  south  and  a 
gate  to  Asia.  The  mouth  of  the  Danube 
and  Batoum  are  prizes  which  the  popular 
consideration  would  think  worthy  of  a  war. 
It  would  be  simple  enough  if  we  had  only 
to  consult  our  own  people.  Unfortunately, 
the  opinion  of  the  other  great  powers  is  to 
be  considered,  and,  first,  that  of  England." 
"  England  shall  place  no  obstacle  in 
the  way  of  this  war,"  said  James  Os- 
borne. "  Popular  sentiment  controls  the  action  of  England,  just  as 
it  does  that  of  Russia.  And  the  English  people  are  Christians. 
They  would  far  rather  give  up  their  own  interests  than  pursue  them  at 
the  cost  of  cruelty  to  a  race.  You  shall  see,  the  newspaper  is  the 
true  monarch  of  the  world.  If  it  is  popular  opinion  which  shapes  the 
action  of  governments,  it  is  the  newspaper  which  shapes  popular 
opinion.  I  am  here  in  Moscow  as  the  editor  of  one  of  its  leading 
journals.  I  shall  fill  my  post  poorly  if,  before  the  year  is  out,  a  strong 
war  sentiment  has  not  been  created.  J.  A.  MacGahan,  one  ot  the 
most  talented  and  earnest  of  our  war  correspondents,  is  revolutionizing 


MELICENT    IS    SURPRISED. 


A/OSCOir,    NIJNI-NOVGOROD,    AND    THE    CRIMEA. 


95 


popular  sentiment  in  England.  Other  writers  are  telling  the  truth  in 
Austria,  Germany,  and  France.  Another  year  we  shall  be  marching  on 
Constantinople." 

The  countess  was  greatly  interested  ;  woman-like,   she  had  already 


CZAR    KOLOKOL. 


busied   herself   in  preparations  for  the  simple  little  wedding,  but  she 
now  entered  into  them  with  great  enthusiasm. 

While  these  arrangements  were  in  progress,  Gus  amused  himself  by 
visiting  all  the  places  of  interest  in  the  city,  and  in  guiding  his  father 
and  mother,  and  others  of  the  party,  to  them.  He  was  especially  inter- 
ested in  the  history  of  the  Vasili  Blagennoy  Church,  built  for  Ivan  the 
Terrible,  in  the  grotesque,  semi-barbaric  Tartar  style  ;  and  so  delighting 


196  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AiYD    TURKEY. 

that  monarch,  that  it  is  said  he  ordered  the  eyes  of  the  architect  to  be 
put  out,  "  in  order  that  he  might  never  build  another  hke  it." 

"  He  must  have  been  a  sweet-tempered,  fatherly  old  fellow,"  mused 
Gus.  "  Wonder  if  it  wouldn't  be  a  good  thing  for  the  world  if  some 
of  our  modern  architects  were  rewarded  in  the  same  fashion.  Certainly 
if  they  perpetrated  any  such  glaring  and  frightful  combinations  of  color 
in  these  days,  some  means  would  be  found  to  keep  them  from  repeating 
the  crime  aofainst  ijood  taste." 

Net  only  is  the  coloring  of  the  church  fearful  and  wonderful,  but 
the  eiofht  domes  are  cut  into  the  most  fantastic  forms  imaginable,  as 
Theophile  Gautier  has  described  them,  "  some  beaten  into  facets,  these 
cut  into  diamond  points,  like  pine-apples,  those  in  spirals  ;  others,  again, 
marked  with  scales,  lozenge-shaped,  or  celled  like  a  honey-comb." 

The  Tower  of  Ivan  Veliki  pleased  him  more.  He  frequently 
climbed  to  its  top  (325  feet)  to  obtain  the  grand  view  of  the  circling 
city.  At  its  foot  rests  the  famous  Czar  Kolokol  bell  (now  broken), 
which  was  tolled  at  the  birth  of  Peter  the  Great,  but  has  been  unused 
for  two  hundred  years.  It  is  said  to  weigh  about  two  hundred  tons  ; 
and  "  imagination's  utmost  stretch  "  quails  before  a  contemplation  of 
the  thunderous  tone  which  it  must  have  pealed  forth  on  the  birth  of  the 
great  emperor. 

The  bells  were  ringing  in  Moscow  with  a  joyful  clatter,  welcoming 
the  fete  day  of  some  saint,  on  Melicent's  wedding  morning.  It  was  a 
simple  wedding,  with  her  dear  friends  only  as  w^itnesses  ;  and,  after  it 
was  over,  they  conducted  her  to  her  new  home,  and  left  her  there.  No 
reception  or  display  of  wedding  presents,  —  though  each  friend  gave 
his  or  her  token  of  affection,  —  or  bridal  tour  ;  for  the  life  of  both  bride 
and  bridegroom  had  been  full  of  journeyings,  and  a  quiet -home  seemed 
the  ofreatest  of  luxuries. 

After  the  wedding,  Sallie  applied  herself  to  her  painting.  "  I  can- 
not stir  the  world  with  my  pen.  like  James  Osborne,"  she  said,  "  but 
perhaps  I  can  attract  the  attention  of  some  to  Bulgaria  in  another  way. 


I 


CHURCH    OF    VASILI    BLAGENNOY. 


1 


MOSCOIV,   NIJNI-NOVGOROD,    AND    THE   CRIMEA.  1 99 

Surely,  every  form  of  expression,  art  as  well  as  literature,  has  its  moral 
obligation.      I  can  tell  people,  with  my  brush,  what  I  saw  in  Bulgaria." 

She  unrolled  the  canvases  which  she  had  brought  from  Samokov : 
Marika,  with  her  pathetic  look  of  heavenly  sweetness  and  innocence  ; 
Katarinka,  with  fear  and  distrust  stamped  on  her  handsome  features  ; 
and  murdered  Kristo,  —  with  the  lamb  still  in  his  arms,  lickine  his 
sheltering  hands,  —  and  she  painted  with  the  inspiration  of  a  new 
purpose.  Herr  Miiller  came  to  Moscow  and  watched  her  with  surprise. 
"  I  did  not  know  that  you  were  a  genius,  Sallie.  I  am  afraid  that  a 
woman  with  your  talent  has  no  right  to  be  married,  and  to  waste  even 
a  part  of  your  life  on  me." 

Sallie  laughed  lightly.  "  Don't  be  jealous  of  my  art.  Fritz.  I  shall 
lay  it  all  aside  by  and  by.  It  is  only  for  this  time,  and  for  a  particular 
purpose,  that  I  am  so  absorbed  in  it.  Be  patient  a  little  while,  and  I 
will  give  you  all  the  attention  you  deserve  very  soon." 

Friedrich  Miiller  pulled  his  mustache  meditatively.  "  I  don't  under- 
stand her,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  thought  she  loved  me,  and  yet  she 
turns  me  off  as  though  I  were  of  no  account  whatever." 

Mr.  Benton  recognized  the  young  man's  chagrin,  and  applied  him- 
self to  entertaining  and  becoming  acquainted  with  his  prospective  son- 
in-law.  Together  they  looked  up  the  souvenirs  of  Napoleon's  disastrous 
campaign,  —  Gus  accompanying  them,  with  great  delight,  to  historic 
sites  during  the  day,  and  reading  aloud  to  them  Tolstoi's  novel,  "  Peace 
and  War,"  and  from  histories  in  the  evening.  The  dreadful  story  of  how 
the  great  general,  with  an  army  of  half  a  million  of  men,  crossed  the 
Niemen  in  June,  1812,  the  Russian  generals  retreating  before  him,  and 
wasting  the  country  as  they  went,  so  that  the  invader  could  with 
difficulty  obtain  supplies.  Napoleon  followed  with  resolution,  though 
a  hundred  thousand  of  his  followers  dropped  off.  He  reached  Smolensk 
in  August,  only  to  find  it  fired  by  the  inhabitants.  On  the  7th  of 
September  he  overtook  the  Russians  and  fought  the  battle  of  Borodino. 
Desperately  he  persevered,  and   reached  Moscow  a  week  later.     And 


200  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

again,  as  in  Smolensk,  he  found  that  so  invincible  was  the  pluck  of  the 
Russians,  that  the)-  had  destroyed  their  property  rather  than  allow  it  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  French.  He  rested  in  the  city  for  five  weeks, 
endeavoring  to  refit  his  army,  which  was  now^  reduced  to  a  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  men.  Shortly  after  his  arrival,  a  destructive  fire  broke 
out,  —  set  by  criminals,  who  had  been  released  for  that  purpose. 
Nothinor  was  left  for  him  to  do  but  to  return  ;  and  now  winter  had  set 
in.  His  veterans  dropped  in  the  snow,  dying  daily  upon  the  marches. 
The  Russians  hovered  in  the  rear,  harassing  his  retreat.  When  he 
crossed  the  Beresina,  on  the  27th  of  November,  his  magnificent  army 
had  dwindled  to  twenty-five  thousand.  His  pride  and  his  power  were 
broken.     It  was  a  death-blow  to  both. 

The  poet  Southey  has  described  the  campaign,  in  one  of  his  minor 
poems,  —  a  satire  not  so  familiar  to  us  as  to  our  fathers.  Mr.  Benton 
repeated  it  one  evening.  He  had  learned  it  as  a  boy,  he  said,  to  recite 
in  school,  merely  as  a  feat  of  memory,  because  the  names  seemed  to 
him  so  unpronounceable  and  absurd.  Many  of  these  names  were 
familiar  to  the  party,  as  belonging  to  nobles  and  generals  already  dis- 
tinguished, and  others  were  destined  soon  to  come  to  the  front. 

THE    MARCH    TO    MOSCOW. 

BY   ROBERT   SOUTHEY. 

The  Emperor  Nap  he  would  set  out 
On  a  summer  excursion  to  Moscow. 
The  fields  were  green  and  the  sky  was  blue. 

IVIorbleu  !     Parbleu  ! 
What  a  pleasant  excursion  to  Moscow  ! 

Four  hundred  thousand  men  and  more 
Must  go  with  him  to  Moscow. 
There  were  marshals  by  the  dozen, 
And  dukes  by  the  score, 
Princes  a  few  and  kings  one  or  two. 
While  the  fields  were  so  green  and  the  skies  so  blue, 
Kothing  would  do  but  the  whole  crew- 
Must  be  marching  away  to  Moscow. 


AfOSCOir,   NIJNI-NOVGOROD,   AND    THE   CRIMEA.  20T 

But  the  Russians  stoutly  they  turned  to, 

Upon  the  road  to  Moscow. 

Napoleon  had  to  fight  his  way  all  through  ; 

They  could  fight,  though  they  could  not  parlez-vous. 

But  the  fields  were  green  and  the  sky  was  blue, 

And  so  he  got  to  Moscow. 

He  found  the  place  too  warm  for  him. 

For  they  set  fire  to  Moscow. 

To  get  there  had  cost  him  much  ado, 

And  then  no  better  course  he  knew. 

While  the  fields  were  green  and  the  sky  was  blue, 

But  to  march  back  again  from  INIoscow. 

The  Russians  they  stuck  close  to  him 

All  on  the  road  from  Moscow. 

There  was  Tomazow  and  Jemalow, 

And  all  the  others  that  end  in  ow  ; 

Milardovitch  and  Jaladovitch, 

And  Karatschkowitch, 

And  all  the  others  that  end  in  itch. 

Schamscheff  and  Sochosaneff 

And  Schepaleff, 

And  all  the  others  that  end  in  eff. 


And  Platoff  he  played  them  off. 

And  Shouvaloff  he  shovelled  them  off, 

And  Krosnoff  he  crossed  them  off, 

And  Tuchkoff  he  touched  them  off, 

And  Boroskoff  he  bored  them  off, 

And  Kutousoff  he  cut  them  off. 

And  Parenzoff  he  pared  them  off. 

And  Woronzoff  he  worried  them  off, 

And  Doctoroff  he  doctored  them  off, 

And  Rodinoff  he  flogged  them  off. 

They  stuck  close  to  Nap  with  all  their  might. 

They  were  on  the  left,  and  on  the  right. 

Behind  and  before,  by  day  and  by  night. 

And  then  came  on  the  frost  and  snow 

All  on  the  road  from  Moscow. 


202  THREE    VASSAR  GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

The  wind  and  the  weather,  he  found  in  that  hour, 
Cared  nothing  for  him  nor  for  all  his  power,  — 
For  him  who  while  Europe  crouched  under  his  rod 
Put  his  trust  in  his  fortune  and  not  in  his  God. 
Worse  and  worse  every  day  the  elements  grew ; 
The  fields  were  white  and  the  sky  was  blue. 

Sacrebleu  !  Ventre-bleu  ! 
What  a  horrible  journey  from  Moscow  ! 

During  the  reading  of  "  Peace  and  War,"  the  Httle  circle  had 
become  greatly  interested  in  the  author.  "  How  much  I  should  like  to 
meet  him  !  "  Sallie  chanced  to  remark. 

"That  can  be  easily  arranged,"  replied  Count  Melinoff.  "Count 
Leo  Tolstoi  was  a  comrade  of  mine  in  the  army.  I  have  seen  little  of 
him  since  he  adopted  a  literary  career,  though  we  were  all  ver)-  proud 
of  his  honors,  and  sorry  to  learn  that  he  had  renounced  them  all  for 
the  sake  of  living  among  the  peasants  as  a  peasant,  and  earning  his 
bread  by  cobbling.  His  theories  would  have  impoverished  him  but  for 
his  excellent  wife,  who  possesses  a  fortune  in  her  own  right,  which, 
fortunately,  he  has  not  the  power  to  give  away.  He  lives  upon  her 
estate  at  Krasnoe,  not  far  from  Tasnaya  Polyana.  If  you  like,  we  will 
make  an  excursion  and  visit  them." 

This  visit  was  among  the  most  pleasant  of  Sallie's  Russian  souvenirs. 
A  son  of  the  family  awaited  them  at  the  station,  with  a  carriage,  and  the 
Countess  Tolstoi  received  them  on  the  steps  of  her  country-house. 
The  count,  they  were  told,  was  ploughing  the  field  of  a  poor  widow, 
who  lived  near  by.  The  countess  was  evidently  very  proud  of  her 
generous  but  eccentric  husband,  and  listened  with  pleasure  to  the 
praise  which  her  guests  rendered  of  his  "  Peace  and  War."  She 
showed  them  his  study,  with  its  tool-bench  and  plain  writing-desk. 
The  count  arrived  in  time  for  dinner,  and  changed  his  peasant's  smock 
for  a  plain  coat.  The  dinner  was  an  excellent  one,  —  of  several 
courses,  —  but  the  count  was  extremely  frugal,  denying  himself  wine, 
and  even  tea.      He  told   them  the   story  of  the  poor  widow  whom  he 


MOSCOIV,    NIJ NT-NOVGOROD,   AND    THE   CRIMEA.  203 

had  been  assisting.  "  Her  husband  died  last  winter,  and,  assisted  by 
her  httle  daughter,  she  buried  him,  — carrying  the  cross,  which  was  to 
mark  his  grave,  to  the  cemetery,  —  not  having  money  to  pay  the  sexton, 
or  any  friends  to  bid  to  the  funeral.  That  woman  has  worked  all  her 
life  for  a  pittance,"  he  said.  "  What  right  have  I  to  more?  It  is  the 
same  as  if  I  had  inherited  a  plantation  of  slaves  in  your  own  country. 
WHiat  would  a  Christian  do  there  but  renounce  them  all  ?  So  I  renounce 
wealth  obtained  from  the  toil  of  others,  and  will  possess  nothing  which 
I  have  not  earned,  which  any  one  may  not  earn.  It  is  my  understand- 
ing of  Christianity." 

Sallie  was  much  impressed  by  her  interview  with  this  singular  man  ; 
and,  on  her  return  to  Moscow,  painted  a  sketch  of  the  scene  which  he 
had  described.  The  countess  looked  at  it  very^  kindly.  "  Our  poor 
women  in  Russia  all  bear  the  cross''  she  said  simply. 

The  count  and  countess  w^ent  early  to  their  villa  in  the  Crimea, 
urging  the  Bentons  and  Alice  to  accompany  them  ;  but,  as  the  weather 
was  still  warm  in  the  south,  and  Mr.  Benton  wished  to  attend  the  fair 
of  Nijni-Novgorod  in  September,  the  visit  was  deferred. 

During  their  stay  at  Moscow,  Sallie  received  a  letter  from  Lady 
Saunters,  who  remembered  her  talent  for  painting,  and  wished  to 
secure  something  of  hers  as  a  present  for  her  husband.  To  Lady 
Saunters,  therefore,  Sallie  sent  the  picture  of  Marika,  telling  her  of 
the  girl's  tragic  fate,  and  asking  if  she  remembered  meeting  her  at 
Ragusa.  At  the  same  time  she  made  inquiries  as  to  the  means  for 
having  her  painting  of  Kristo  exhibited  in  London.  In  due  time, 
partly  through  Lady  Saunters,  but  also  on  account  of  its  own  merit,  the 
painting  was  hung  at  one  of  the  great  exhibitions,  where  it  attracted 
much  attention,  and  helped  usher  in  the  strong  and  popular  feeling  of 
indignation  which  followed  the  report  of  the  Bulgarian  massacres. 

Lady  Saunters  was  so  strongly  moved  by  it  that  later  she  went  out 
to  Servia,  with  a  party  of  friends,  to  assist  in  establishing  an  as)lum 
for  orphans.     Alice,  who  had  been  watching  eagerly  for  an  opportunity 


204  THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

to  return  to  the  provinces,  immediately  joined  her ;  and  only  her 
parents'  iiro-cnt  remonstrances,  and  her  own  feeling  that  she  was  perhaps 
doing  as  valuable  work  for  the  cause  by  her  painting,  detained  Sallie. 
The  Servian  war  had  ended  ingloriously,  only  serving  to  bring  much 
suffering  upon  the  unhappy  Bulgarians,  and  as  yet  none  of  the  foreign 
powers  seemed  inclined  to  come  to  the  help  of  the  oppressed  princi- 
palities ;  and  an  even  deeper  cloud  of  despair  seemed  to  be  settling 
upon  them. 

In  September,  the  Bentons,  Alice  Newton,  and  Friedrich  Muller 
visited  NijnI-Novgorod. 

The  great  annual  fair  has  lost  much  of  Its  prestige.  Merchants  no 
longer  come  from  foreign  lands  In  such  numbers  as  formerly  to  attend 
it,  but  It  Is  still  an  event  of  great  interest  to  the  city,  and  to  the  stranger 
who  desires  to  become  acquainted,  at  the  expense  of  little  travel,  with 
the  different  types  of  Russians  ;  for  representatives  from  every  part  of 
Russia  come  to  NIjni-Novgorod  at  the  time  of  the  fair.  The  town  Is 
admirably  situated  for  such  a  trystlng-place.  It-  is  not  Its  only  advan- 
tage that  It  Is  on  the  Volga,  —  the  great  water  thoroughfare  of  Russia,  — 
a  vast  river  which  has  aptly  been  described  as  the  spinal  cord  of  the 
nation,  carrying  the  currents  of  life  through  the  immense  body,  and  a 
highway  to  the  Caspian  and  to  Asia.  The  Oka  joins  the  Volga  at 
Nijni,  bringing  trade  from  Moscow  and  the  west  ;  and  by  an  Intricate 
s)stem  of  canals,  water  communication  is  obtained  with  the  Baltic, 
through  Neva  and  St.  Petersburg,  with  the  White  Sea  on  the  north  and 
the  Euxine  on  the  south. 

Gus  was  surprised  to  learn  that  fifteen  thousand  vessels  ply  on  the 
\"olga  alone.  A  forest  of  masts  framed  the  city  ;  and  busy  tugs  were 
towing  in  the  loaded  barges  with  merchandise  for  the  fair.  They 
strolled,   the   first    nlofht    after   their    arrival,    amoncr    the    booths,    and 

'  o  <z>  ' 

interested  themselves  in  the  various  types  and  nationalities  of  the 
merchants,  as  well  as  in  the  goods  which  they  offered  for  sale.  Here 
were   the   long-haired,   mild-faced   men  of    Moscow,  with  weapons    as 


MOSCOW,   NIJNI-NOVGOROD,   AND    THE   CRIMEA. 


205 


noted  in  earlier  times  as  those  of 
Damascus  ;  and  close  beside  them 
were  pearl-inlaid  and  jevvelled- 
handled  daggers  from  the  Turkish 
dominions.  Here  were  rugs  of 
Daghestan,  and  silks  of  Bokhara  ; 
furs  from  Siberia,  —  the  softest  and 
lightest  sables,  with  creamy  ermines, 
and  silver  and  black  fox.  There  were 
wonderful  gems  in  the  jewellers' 
bazaars,  from  the  mines  of  the  Urals. 
Alexandrite,  with  its  wonderful  em- 
erald and  ruby  lights,  and  caskets, 
vases,  and  tables  cut  from  streaky 
malachite,  with  gold  and  silver  ware 
enamelled  in  colors.  Not  far  from 
these  choice  objects  were  the  fish- 
booths,  where  pretty  girls  from 
Pskov,  with  wonderful  structures 
upon  their  heads,  sold  caviare  and 
other  salted  fish ;  while  peasants 
from  villages,  devoted  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  one  particular  article,  brought 
axes  or  linen  croods  or  leather,  as 
the  case  might  be.  There  was  a 
band  of  Kirghiz  in  the  outskirts, 
with  beautiful  horses  for  sale,  who 
were  carrying  on  a  sort  of  impromptu 
circus  ;  and  a  rival  band  of  Cal- 
muck  Tartars  from  Kazan.  Pilgrims 
from  the  Holy  Land  offered  olive- 
wood  rosaries  to  the  devout  ;  while 


CALiMUClv    TAKTAK    MAID. 


206  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

a  nondescript  in  an  Astrakhan  cap,  who  had  worn  a  scarlet  fez  at  the 
opening  of  the  fair,  but  had  found  it  unpopular,  peddled  perfumes  and 
soaps,  and  other  wares  suggestive  of  Constantinople.  Mrs.  Benton 
bought  some  of  the  famous  brick-tea,  brought  by  caravan  overland  from 
China,  and  said  to  be  far  superior  in  flavor  to  that  transported  by  sea. 

On  the  last  evening  of  their  stay  at  Nijni,  they  all  mounted  the  Tower 
of  Minin,  and  enjoyed  the  sparkling  panorama  of  the  lighted  booths. 

"  How  well  Edna  Dean  Proctor  describes  it,"  said  Sallie.     "  Her 

Russian   poems   have   all  of  them   a  reality  which  spreads  the  entire 

scene  before  you,  and  the  ring  of  life  in  their  cadences,  but  none  more 

so  than 

"'THE    FAIR    AT    NIJNI    NOVGOROD.' 

"  '  Now,  by  the  Tower  of  Babel, 

Was  ever  such  a  crowd  ? 
Here  Turks  and  Jews  and  Gypsies, 

There  Persians  haughty-browed ; 
With  silken-robed  Celestials, 

And  Frenchmen  from  the  Seine, 
And  Khivans  and  Bokhariotes, 

Heirs  of  the  Oxus  plain. 

Here  stalk  Siberian  hunters, 

There  tents  a  Kirghiz  clan 
By  mournful-eyed  Armenians 

From  wave-girt  Astrakhan  ; 
And  Russ  and  Pole  and  Tartar, 

And  mounted  Cossack  proud,  — 
Now,  by  the  Tower  of  Babel, 

Was  ever  such  a  crowd  ? '  " 

One  day  the  travellers  saw  a  gang  of  convicts  passing  on  their  way 
to  Siberia,  and  Sallie  was  reminded  of  the  story  which  Melicent  had 
told  her  of  Natocha,  and  scanned  the  sad,  hopeless  faces,  wondering 
if  she  were  of  the  number. 

Friedrich  Miiller  was  impatient  to  conduct  the  party  to  his  sister's 
home  at  Yalta,  and  early  in  October  the  Bentons,  accompanied  still  by 
Alice,  turned  their  faces  southward. 


MOSCOW,   NIJNI-NOVGOROD,    AND    THE    CRIMEA.  207 

The  Crimea  has  rightly  been  called  the  Italy  of  Russia.  Here  an 
entirely  different  climate  is  met,  and  the  olive,  the  plum,  the  peach, 
and  the  date  make  the  peninsula  a  second  Greece.  The  countess's 
villa  was  situated  half-way  between  the  watering-place  of  Yalta  and  the 
royal  pleasure  resort  of  Livadia.  It  hung  like  a  gull's  nest  to  the 
high  cliff,  whose  base  was  washed  by  the  blue  waters  of  the  Euxine, 
and  from  the  sea  the  white  walls  of  the  villa  were  hardly  to  be 
distinguished  from  those  of  the  cliff  itself.  A  staircase  cut  in  the 
rock  led  down  to  the  lapping  water,  and  was  almost  sprinkled  with 
the  spray  of  a  cascade  which  leaped  over  the  same  cliff.  On  the 
landward  side,  groves,  vineyards,  and  gardens  separated  the  villa 
from  the  public  drive.  It  was  a  lovely  spot  in  which  to  dream  and 
bask  in  the  sun  or  rest  in  the  shadow  and  forget  the  world.  But 
Sallie  could  not  quite  forget  that  there  were  human  beings  very 
near,  leading  far  different  lives  ;  and  though  Friedrich  was  always 
pleading  for  a  ride,  or  the  countess  planning  an  excursion  by  yacht 
to  Balaklava  and  Sebastopol,  or  a  carriage  drive  to  a  grand  fete  at 
the  Emperor's  palace  at  Livadia,  Sallie  still  managed  to  secure  studio 
hours,  and  to  paint.  Mr.  Benton  and  Gus  made  the  trip  to  Sebas- 
topol, and  found  many  interesting  traces  of  the  great  siege  of  1854 
and  1855.  Tolstoi  has  given  a  most  realistic  description  of  the 
fighting  here,  from  the  Russian  side.  The  enemy,  French  and  Eng- 
lish, had  taken  positions  on  the  landward  side  of  the  fortress.  The 
Russians  were  shut  up  in  earthworks  and  bomb-proofs,  and  endured 
patiently  an  iron  rain  of  shot  and  shell,  in  the  hope  of  a  rescue  which 
did  not  come  ;  for  the  land  forces  were  beaten  at  Balaklava  and  at 
Inkerman.  All  through  the  terrible  winter  and  more  terrible  summer, 
the  plucky  besieged  held  out  until  September,  when  the  Malakof 
redoubt  was  taken  by  the  French,  and  the  siege  was  at  an  end. 
Mr.  Geddie  states,  in  his  "  Russian  Empire,"  that  in  one  single  day 
seventy  thousand  projectiles  were  thrown  into  Sebastopol,  and  the 
thunder  of  the  cannonade  was   heard  for   sixty  miles  around.     "One 


2o8  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY'. 

of  the  most  sineular  illustrations  of  the  enormous  waste  of  material 
during-  the  siege  is  the  fact  mentioned  by  Sir  E.  J.  Reed,  that  the 
Russian  Government,  by  imposing  a  tax  of  sixpence  per  hundred- 
weight on  the  old  metal  picked  up  by  the  townspeople  after  the  bom- 
bardment, were  able  to  realize  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  pounds." 

But  the  waste  of  precious  life  was  still  more  reckless.  In  the  last 
twenty-eight  days  of  the  siege  Rambaud  states  that  the  Russians  lost 
eicrhteen  thousand  men.  Friedrich  Muller  was  talking^  over  these 
statistics  with  Sallie,  the  day  after  his  excursion  to  Sebastopol. 

"When  I  think  soberly  of  such  a  siege  as  this,"  he  said,  "of  Napo- 
leon's Russian  campaign,  and  of  my  own  experiences  with  the  German 
army,  my  reason  admits  that  you  are  right.  War  is  frightful  barbarism. 
But  when  I  turn  from  these  considerations,  and  look  at  the  pictures  you 
are  painting,  and  hear  your  stories  of  the  barbarities  of  the  Turks,  I  am 
all  on  fire.  And  if  the  Russians  were  on  the  march  for  Bulgaria,  I  am 
just  as  sure  that  every  instinct  of  a  man  within  me  would  cry  to  me  to 
enlist  in  their  service.  I  don't  understand,  Sallie,  what  your  object  is 
in  painting  such  pictures  as  that,  when  you  declare  that  you  are 
opposed  to  war." 

"  But  is  there  no  other  means  of  righting  these  wrongs,  —  arbitra- 
tion, Christianity?" 

Friedrich  made  a  gesture  of  disgust.  "  Visionary  remedies,  for 
which  the  world  is  not  ready.  I  tell  you,  Sallie,  that  you  must  stop 
concerning  yourself  about  your  fellow-men  at  all,  or  else  be  willing  to 
die  for  them," 

"  I  am  willing  to  die  for  them,"  Sallie  replied  simply,  "but  do  not 
see  our  right  to  murder  other  fellow-beings  for  them.  If  I  only  knew 
what  ought  to  be  done  !  " 

"  Since  the  problem  is  too  difficult  for  you,  why  not  wash  your 
hands  of  the  entire  matter,  and  let  us  live  for  ourselves  and  for  each 
other." 

» 

"  That  is  not  worthy  of  you,  Friedrich." 


MOSCOW,   NIJNI-NOVGOROD,   AND    THE   CRIMEA. 


209 


"  I  know  it ;  but  the  world  is  very  beautiful,  — just  here,  —  and  you 
are  beautiful,  too,  Sallie,  and  I  love  you,  and  have  given  up  the  life  of 
a  soldier  for  you,  —  and  with  it  all  responsibility  for  righting  the  wrongs 
of  the  rest  of  the  world." 

"  And  I  would  be  very  unreasonable  not  to 
be  satisfied.  I  will  paint  no  more,  Friedrich  ; 
you  have  showed  me  that  I  am  only  rousing 
people  to  indignation,  without  showing  them  a 
better  way." 

But  the  mischief  was  done.  Friedrich  Muller, 
slow  to  perceive,  slow  to  move,  was  moved  at 
last.  The  winter  slipped  away  in  the  lovely 
Crimea ;  and  one  day  in  the  early  spring  of 
1877  the  family  were  attending  2^.  fete  at  the 
royal  palace  at  Livadia,  which  was  built  by 
Count  Potocki,  in  the  st)'le  of  the  palace  of  the 
old  Khans  of  Crim  Tartary  at  Baktchi-Serai. 
Sallie  was  chatting  gayly  with  a  member  of  Prince  Vorontzof's  family, 
who  had  driven  over  from  the  prince's  Moorish  palace  at  Alupka,  — 
an  ancient  diplomat,  full  of  reminiscences  of  the  Potemkins,  the  Galit- 
zins,  and  others. 

"  Ah  !  "  said  he,  "  no  opportunities  are  afforded  to  our  young  men 
to  gain  distinction  nowadays.  The  manly  art  of  war  seems  to  be  for- 
gotten.     I    was    discussing    a   very   able   article   in    the   Moscow 

[naming  James  Osborne's  paper]  with  his  Imperial  Majesty  lately.  It 
clamored  for  war,  and  his  Majesty  seemed  to  feel  the  justice  of  the 
arguments  advanced  ;  but  an  emperor  is  not  moved  by  his  own  inclina- 
tion, or  his  own  sense  of  justice  even,  much  less  by  anything  written 
by  a  literary  man,  but  by  considerations  of  state  policy  alone." 

"  His  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  admit  to  me,"  said 
Melicent,  "  that  he  had  once  been  influenced  to  a  great  reform  by  some- 
thing written  by  a  literary  man.    Who  knows  but  it  may  happen  again  ? " 


THE    OLD    DII'LOMAT. 


2IO  THREE    VASSAR    GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

The  diplomat  twirled  his  lorgnette  in  airy  incredulity. 

Just  then  an  officer  entered  the  salon  :  there  was  a  sudden  hush, 
and  then  a  buzz  as  of  swarming- bees.  "What  is  it?"  asked  the  old 
gentleman.  "  Only,  sir,"  replied  Count  Feodor,  "  that  the  young 
men  of  Russia  have  now  an  opportunity  of  earning  decorations  for 
heroism.     The  Czar  has  declared  war  with  the  Porte  !  " 

Exciting  days  followed.  There  had  been  much  discussion  as  to 
Friedrich  Mliller's  future  manner  of  life,  and  it  had  finally  been  decided 
that  he  should  emigrate  to  America  and  begin  a  mercantile  life.  But 
from  that  evening  at  Livadia  his  entire  bearing  changed  ;  and  one  da)' 
he  came  to  Sallie,  as  she  sat  in  the  garden,  looking  away  toward  the 
shores  of  Bulgaria,  and,  taking  her  hands,  said  gravely,  "  I  gave  up 
the  army  for  your  sake,  and  I  will  hold  to  that  renunciation  if  you  still 
demand  it.  But  it  is  you  who  have  rekindled  the  w^ar  spirit  within  me  ; 
and  my  brother-in-law^  has  just  obtained  for  me  an  appointment  to 
General  Gourko's  staff.      Shall  I  accept  it  ?  " 

Sallie  turned  deadly  pale.  "  It  is  the  only  way.  You  are  right. 
There  is  no  hope  of  any  other  deliverance  for  those  people.  It  is  a 
war  of  principle,  and  I  will  not  keep  you  back." 


SHIP  K  A    PASS, 


21  I 


CHAPTER    XV. 


SHIPKA    PASS. 


From  the  smoking  hell  of  battle, 

Love  and  pity  send  their  prayer, 
And  still  thy  white-winged  angels 

Hover  dimly  in  our  air. 

Whittier. 

HOW  events  seemed  to  gather  themselves  into  a  whirlpool  and 
twirl  on  to  one  great  vortex  after  this  ! 

The  beautiful  life  at  the  villa  was  at  once  broken  up,  and  the 
friends  scattered.  Count  Melinoff  and  Friedrich,  once  more  Captain 
Miiller,  joined  the  Russian  army  at  Bucha- 
rest. 

Sallie's  parting  gift  to  her  lover  was 
the  pair  of  epaulets  which  he  had  sent 
her  when  he  gave  up  his  career  for  her 
sake.  They  needed  to  be  only  slightly 
changed  to  be  adapted  to  his  new  uni- 
form ;  and  Sallie  had  embroidered  them 
with  fresh  gold  thread,  tarnishing  their 
brightness  slightly  with  tears,  which  were 
shed  in  secret. 

James  and  Melicent  Osborne  wrote 
that  they  had  started  in  the  same  direc- 
tion,—  James  Osborne  as  war  correspond- 
ent, and  Melicent  havincr  taken  service 
with  the  Red  Cross.  "  I  must  go  too,"  Sallie  had  said, 
bear  to  be  left  behind,  and  to  do  nothing." 

"Then,"  said   her   father,  "I   shall  go  with   you.     I   was  a  hospital 


THE    EPAULETS    RETURNED. 

I  cannot 


212  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 

Steward  during  our  own  war,  and  I  don't  believe  I  have  forgotten  my 
profession.  We  will  join  your  friends  at  Bucharest,  and  offer  our 
services  to  the  Red  Cross." 

Gus  was  wild  to  join  the  expedition,  but  his  father  forbade  it. 
"  Your  studies  have  been  interrupted  long  enough,"  he  said.  "  You 
must  escort  your  mother  back  to  America,  and  enter  college  this 
fall." 

Since  Florence  Nightingale's  administration  at  the  hospital  of 
Scutari,  woman's  place  by  the  side  of  wounded  and  dying  men  has 
been  undisputed.  Sallie  had  read  the  account  of  the  Crimean  war 
with  great  interest.  The  wounded  English  soldiers  were  carried  back 
trom  Sebastopol  to  Scutari,  and  here  their  condition,  before  the  coming 
of  the  English  nurses,  is  described  by  an  eye-witness,  Dr.  Hamlin, 
as  horrible.  "  Five  thousand  patients,  in  all  forms  of  disease  and 
suffering,  with  not  half  the  force  necessary  to  care  for  them.  The 
smell  of  the  hospital  was  nauseous,  and  the  sights  and  sounds  were 
such  as  untrained  nerves  could  not  endure.  Cursing  and  praying,  the 
maniac's  shout  or  song,  and  the  groans  of  pain  or  death,  were  mingled 
as  they  never  were  before.  A  noble-looking  soldier  said  :  '  At  ten 
o'clock  the  lights  are  put  out,  and  no  one  comes  near  us  till  morning. 
Some  are  crying,  "  Water,  water  !  "  some  are  praying;  many  are  insane  ; 
some  are  dying.  Those  who  ought  not  to  move  try  to  do  something  in 
the  dark  for  the  suffering.     Oh,  sir !  our  nights  are  terrible.'  " 

In  this  state  of  the  hospital,  Mr.  Hamlin  was  informed,  "  Fancy ! 
some  "djoinen  have  come  to  take  care  of  this  hospital !  Was  ever  any- 
thing more  improper  ?     I  can  assure  you  they  won't  stay  long !  " 

But  the  women  staid.  A  great  reform  was  inaugurated.  "  Divid- 
ing the  work  among  them,  there  was  a  nurse  to  each  long  corridor, 
walking  back  and  forth  all  night,  administering  to  the  wants  of  sufferers, 
kneeling  at  the  bedside  of  the  dying,"  and  imparting  cheer  to  the 
convalescent.  All  the  world  has  sung  the  praises  of  the  woman  who 
led  this  enterprise  —  none  more  worthily  than  Sidney  Dobell.     And  this 


SHIP  K  A    PASS.  2  I  -> 

poem  of  his  to  Florence  Nightingale  was  written  on  a  page  of  Sallie's 
journal,  with  pressed  flowers  from  Sebastopol. 

"  How  must  the  soldier's  tearful  heart  expand, 
Who  from  a  long  and  obscure  dream  of  pain, 
His  foeman's  frown  imprinted  on  his  brain, 
Wakes  to  thy  healing  face  and  dewy  hand  ! 
When  this  great  noise  has  rolled  from  off  the  land, 
When  all  those  fallen  Englishmen  of  ours 
Have  bloomed  and  faded  in  Crimean  flowers, 
Thy  perfect  charity  unsoiled  shall  stand  !  " 

Sallie  knew  that  the  real  horrors  of  war  are  seen  in  the  hospital, 
not  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  her  repugnance  for  such  scenes  was 
intense.  This  was  the  same  country  in  which  Florence  Nightingale 
had  labored  :  the  same  terrific  climate ;  the  same  Russian  camps,  with 
their  lack  of  sanitation,  on  one  side,  and  the  only  difference  lying  in  the 
fact  that  the  Turks  took  the  place  of  the  English,  replacing  civilized 
war  by  savage  barbarities. 

She  knew  that  Russian  hospitals  were  worse  than  English  ones, — 
for  she  had  read  Tolstoi's  account  of  the  Russian  side  of  that  terrible 
Crimean  campaign,  and  her  courage  quailed  before  the  great  novelist's 
description  of 

"  A  Russian  Hospital. 

•'You  have  scarcely  opened  the  door  before  the  sickening  odor 
emitted  from  forty  or  fifty  amputations  or  severe  wounds  makes  you 
gasp  for  breath.  You  will  behold  frightful  scenes  here.  You  are 
seeing  war,  now,  without  the  brilliant  accompaniment  of  handsomely 
uniformed  troops  and  inspiring  music,  of  standards  floating  gayl>-  in 
the  breeze.  You  are  seeing  it  as  it  really  is,  —  in  its  blood,  its 
suffering  and  death  !  The  stretcher-bearers  were  continually  bringing 
in  new  victims  and  laying  them,  side  by  side,  in  rows  on  the  floor. 
The    pools    of  blood,    the   feverish   breath    of  several    hundred  men, 


214 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


created  a  heavy,  fetid  atmosphere,  in  which  the  candles  burned  but 
cHmly  ;  while  a  confused  murmur  of  moans,  sighs,  and  death-rattles, 
broken  by  piercing-  shrieks,  filled  the  hall." 

But  even  here  an  alleviating  touch  is  given  to  the  picture,  for  the 
author  continues,  — 


RUSSIAN    MILITARY    TYPES. 


"  Sisters  of  charity,  whose  calm  faces  expressed  an  active,  helpful 
interest,  glided  quietly  about,  carrying  medicines,  water,  bandages,  and 
lint." 

It  was  some  little  time  before  the  Red  Cross  brigade  were  called 
to  render  active  service,  and  Sallie  interested  herself  In  watching  the 
different  t}^pes  of  men  mustering  to  Bucharest,  to  the  command  of 
the  Grand  Duke  Nicholas.     The  Circassian  Cossacks,  in  their  red  and 


SHIPKA    PASS. 


217 


green  silk  blouses,  were  certainly  the  most  picturesque,  but  the 
Cossacks  of  the  Don  were  more  interesting.  They  were  little  men, 
with  long,  straight  hair,  and  shrewd,  merr^'  faces,  —  described  by  an  eye- 
witness as  being  all  great-coat  and  boots,  and  more  armed  than  any 
men  of  their  inches  in  Europe.  Their  most  characteristic  weapon  was 
the  long,  black  lance  ;  but  they  carry  also  a  carbine,  a  revolver,  and  a 
curved  sword.  They  rode  wiry  little  ponies,  "  of  indomitable  toughness 
and  gameness  ;  fresh  when  most  other  horses  are  knocked  up.  They 
ride  about  alone  with  despatches,  and  escort  suspected  spies,  keeping  the 
head  of  their  lance  within  easy  distance  of  the  small  of  the  suspect's 
back,  to  be  handy  for  skewering  him  if  he  attempted  escape." 

Sallie  noticed  that  some  of  them  wore  a  bit  of  dried  weed  twisted 
about  their  shakos  ;  and  she  remembered  the  superstition  described  by 
Tolstoi",  of  the  bursting  weed,  devoutly  believed  in  by  the  Cossacks  of 
the  Don. 

It  is  their  custom  to  imprison  a  turtle  over  night,  within  a  small 
palisade  of  sticks.  In  the  morning  it  will  be  found  that  the  captive 
has  escaped  ;  and  at  the  point  where  he  broke  through  his  prison  will 
be  seen  a  bit  of  tangled  weed.  Take  this  and  preserve  it  carefully, 
for  as  long  as  you  wear  it  no  bolts  or  bars  will  be  able  to  keep  you  a 
prisoner. 

After  the  Cossacks  came  the  infantry  in  great  divisions,  making 
long  marches  across  the  muddy  country,  keeping  time  with  long,  swing- 
ing strides  to  their  singing,  —  songs  which  she  could  not  understand, 
but  which  she  felt  must  mean,  — 

"  Hail  to  the  clay  when  the  Eagles 
And  the  Cross  shall  gain  their  own." 

They  had  sweet,  strong  voices,  and  they  sang  as  if  they  were  inspired, 
forgetting  all  weariness,  and  tramping  on  erect  and  fresh,  when  the 
cavalrymen  swayed  asleep  in  their  saddles. 

Amono-    the     Red    Cross    nurses,    Melicent    found    an    old    friend. 


k 


2i8  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

Katocha  jMclniketzky,  the  suspected  Nihilist.  "Tell  Count  Melinoff," 
she  said  to  Melicent,  "  that  he  need  feel  no  uneasiness  as  to  my 
behavior.  It  was  very  noble  in  him  to  be  my  security,  and  I  shall  not 
abuse  his  kindness.  I  have  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Czar, 
and  I  shall  keep  it.  Now  that  I  have  experienced  the  kindness  of  one 
man  belong-ing  to  the  nobility,  I  feel  differently  toward  the  whole 
order." 

Melicent  did  not  explain  that  it  was  all  a  mistake. 

In  this  period  of  suspense  and  preparation,  the  Red  Cross  had  one 
patient  in  their  hospital  tent,  whose  coming  to  them  happened  in  this 
wise.  At  Galatz,  a  Turkish  turret  ship  w^as  noticed  on  the  Danube, 
followed  by  two  gunboats  ;  and  four  tiny  Russian  torpedo  boats  were 
sent  out  to  blow  it  up.  These  torpedo  boats  were  small  steam 
launches,  covered  with  sheet  iron  and  painted  black.  They  puffed 
gently  along  in  the  dead  of  night,  the  noise  they  made  almost  drowned 
b)'  the  croaking  of  the  great  frogs,  and  undiscovered  until  two  of 
them  were  just  under  the  great  ironclad,  when  they  were  challenged  ; 
and  they  heard  men  running  about  on  deck.  The  officers  on  board 
the  little  launches  fastened  their  torpedoes  under  the  hull  of  the  ship, 
and  darted  their  boats  back  the  length  of  the  electric  wire,  which 
connected  the  torpedoes  with  the  battery.  The  officers  established  the 
connection  of  the  electric  current,  and  two  terrible  explosions  were 
heard  ;  a  huge  volume  of  water,  carrying  parts  of  the  shattered  ship, 
rose  into  the  air,  and  a  moment  later  the  monitor  was  seen  to  be 
sinking ;  and  presently  only  her  masts,  still  flying  the  Crescent  flag, 
were  seen  above  the  water.  Two  men  were  rescued  from  the  doomed 
crew  by  the  Russians,  —  one  died  immediately,  the  other  was  carried 
in  a  mangled  condition  to  the  hospital.  He  reported  that  the  name 
of  the  gunboat  was  the  "  Lutfi  Djelil,"  and  that  she  carried  two 
hundred  men.  Sallie  did  what  she  could  for  the  poor  man.  One  day 
it  occurred  to  her  to  ask  him  if  he  knew  of  Mr.  Norcross.  The  man 
appeared    to  understand   her  broken  Turkish.      Yes,   he  knew   ot   the 


SHIP  K  A    PASS. 


221 


English  Pasha.  He  was  high,  high  up  in  the  favor  of  the  Sultan,  and 
very,  very  skilful.      No  torpedo  boats  would  catch  him. 

Mr.  Osborne  was  not  sure  that  the  man  referred  to  their  old 
acquaintance,  but  thought  that  he  might  mean  Hobart  Pasha,  the 
admiral  of  the  Turkish  fleet,  also  an  Englishman.  Hobart  Pasha,  who 
has  since  published  his  recollections  of  the  Russo-Turkish  War,  and 
has  assured  us  that  if  his  advice  had  been  taken  the  Russians  would 
not  have  crossed  the  Danube  as  easily  as  they  did.  As  it  was,  the 
Turkish  fleet  caused  them  much  annoyance. 

Sallie  wondered  if  they  should  hear  more  definitely  from  Mr. 
Norcross,  and  a  little  later  they  were  destined  to  do  so.  The  Russian 
torpedo  boats  did  effective  work  in  clearing  the  Danube,  and  making 
the  crossing  of  the  Russian  troops  a  possibility.  One  Turkish  monitor, 
however,  gave  them  a  gallant  fight.  It  was  attacked  by  four  torpedo 
launches,  but  with  a  far  different  result  from  that  of  the  affair  of 
the  "  Lutfi  Djelil."  James  Osborne  had  obtained  permission  to 
go  out  with  the  attacking  party,  —  but  the  newspaper  report  of 
this  action  will  be  the  briefest  and  the  most  authentic  which  we  can 
give. 

"This  monitor,  it  soon  became  evident,  was  handled  and  com- 
manded in  a  very  different  manner  from  the  others  with  which  the 
Russians  had  to  deal.  With  wonderful  quickness  and  skill  she  was 
prepared  for  action.  Her  commander  began  by  likewise  thrusting  out 
torpedoes  on  the  end  of  long  spars,  thus  threatening  the  boats  with 
the  danger  of  being  blown  into  the  air  first,  at  the  same  time  opening 
a  terrible  fire  with  small  arms  and  mitrailleuse.  He  besides  tried  to 
run  the  boats  down,  and  very  nearly  succeeded.  The  reason  soon 
became  evident.  The  commander  was  a  European,  and,  as  the 
Russians  believe,  an  Englishman,  who  directed  the  movements  from 
the  deck.  He  was  plainly  visible  all  the  time,  and  was  a  tall  man,  with 
a  long,  blond  beard,  parted  in  the  middle.  He  stood  with  his  hands 
in  his  pockets,  giving  orders  in  the  calmest  manner  possible. 


222  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AXD    TLRKEY. 

"  The  torpedo  boats  continued  their  attempts  for  more  than  ah 
hour.  The  monitor,  active  in  trying  to  run  them  down,  backing  and 
advancing,  turning  and  ploughing  the  water  into  foam  as  she  pursued 
or  avoided  her  tiny  but  dangerous  adversaries,  —  a  hon  attacked  by 
rats.  One  Russian  officer,  seeing  the  captain  of  the  monitor  coolly 
standing  on  deck  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  emptied  his  revolver 
at  him,  —  three  shots,  at  a  distance  of  not  more  than  forty  feet.  The 
captain  of  the  monitor,  in  answer,  took  off  his  hat  and  bowed,  not 
ha\in2f  received  a  scratch.  Later,  however,  the  grallant  fellow  seems 
to  have  been  killed  or  wounded,  for  he  suddenly  disappeared  from  the 
deck.  The  monitor  immediately  afterward  retired  precipitately  from 
the  scene  of  action." 

Sallie  was  sure  that  she  recognized  Mr.  Norcross  in  the  chief  actor 
in  this  affair.  The  only  discrepancy  was  the  beard  ;  and  there  had 
been  time  for  him  to  cultivate  one,  "  They  that  take  the  sword  shall 
perish  by  the  sword,"  she  thought,  and  then  grew  startled  as  she 
realized  that  this  applied  also  to  the  Russians,  and  that  Captain  Miiller 
might  be  the  next  brought  in  to  the  hospital. 

The  crossing  of  the  Danube  was  accomplished  b)'  the  main  body 
of  the  Russians,  during  the  last  days  of  June,  at  Simnitza, —  not  without 
hot  fighting,  however ;  for  the  Turks  realized  that  the  Danube  was 
their  first  barrier,  and  defended  it  bravely  if  ineffectually. 

Prince  Tcherkasky,  the  head  of  the  Red  Cross  organization,  had  now 
enough  to  do.  Prince  Tolstoi'  directed  the  hospitals  at  Simnitza,  where 
fully  four  hundred  wounded  were  being  cared  for  in  an  orderly  and 
admirable  manner ;  for  as  yet  the  tents  were  not  overcrowded,  or  the 
nurses  overworked.  The  weather,  however,  was  now  intensely  hot. 
At  Fratesti,  on  the  Bucharest  Railroad,  two  hospital  trains,  —  one  from 
Dresden,  and  one  from  Moscow,  under  the  charge  of  the  Countess 
Orloff  and  a  staff  of  trained  lady  nurses,  —  waited  to  convey  the 
wounded  out  of  the  countr\- ;  while  a  committee  of  relief,  in  which 
the   Countess   Melinoff  labored,  was  busily  at  work  at  St.   Petersburg. 


SHIPKA   PASS. 


THE    RED    CROSS    AT    WORK. 


The   Emperor  visited   the   hospitals  and   distributed  thirty  crosses   of 
St.  George,  to  the  most  valiant  of  the  wounded. 

The    next    barrier    to    be    crossed   was  the   Balkans.      F.verywhere 
between  the  Danube  and  the  mountains,  the  Russian  army  was  received 


2  24  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

by  the  Bulgarians  with  acclamations  of  extravagant  joy.  Church-bells 
which  had  not  been  rung  for  centuries  pealed  forth  their  welcome 
clamorously.  Processions  of  girls  in  white,  singing  songs,  and  of 
children,  bearing  garlands  of  flowers,  headed  by  the  clergy  with 
banners  and  censers,  —  and  in  one  instance  with  an  illuminated  Bible, 
which  had  been  hidden  for  years  in  a  monaster)',  —  streamed  out  to 
meet  the  army. 

James  Osborne,  as  he  rode  beside  General  Skobeleff,  said  triumph- 
antly, as  the  chief  men  kissed  his  hands,  "  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  I 
would  come  again  with  the  Russians  ?  " 

But  the  Turks,  though  they  had  retreated  from  Rustchuk  with  their 
commander-in-chief,  Abdul  Kerim,  were  not  beaten.  They  were 
watching  their  opportunity,  which  they  believed  would  come  when  the 
Russians  attempted  to  storm  Shipka  Pass.  Osman  Pasha,  too,  was 
hastening  from  the  west  to  Plevna,  ready  to  fall  upon  the  rear  of  the 
Russians,  should  they  advance  too  recklessly ;  while  Suleiman  Pasha, 
who  had  been  victorious  in  Montenegro,  had  just  been  transported  by 
the  Turkish  fleet,  with  his  army  of  forty  thousand  men,  from  the  coast 
of  Albania  to  Salonica  (a  distance  of  eight  hundred  miles,  in  twelve 
days),  and  was  now  waiting,  ready  for  action,  at  Adrianople.  (See  map 
on  interior  of  covers.) 

The  Russians,  after  crossing  the  Danube,  separated  into  three 
divisions  :  that  on  the  right,  commanded  by  General  Krudener,  swept 
the  country'  toward  the  southwest,  while  that  on  the  extreme  left,  under 
the  Czarewitch,  performed  the  same  office  toward  the  southeast.  The 
central  column,  commanded  by  General  Gourko,  was  to  attempt  the 
crossing.  He  knew  that  Shipka  Pass  was  strongly  fortified  by 
the  Turks,  and  he  deputed  Prince  Tserteleff  to  discover  some  other 
pass  which  would  be  practicable  for  artillery.  It  chanced  that  the 
Prince,  who  had  met  Melicent  at  St.  Petersburg,  discovered  her  among 
the  Red  Cross  nurses  on  the  very  day  that  he  was  intrusted  with  this 
perilous  duty.      He  informed  her  of  his  commission,  and   she  immedi- 


SHIPKA    PASS.  227 

ately  told  him  of  the  Hainkoi  Pass,  through  which  Salhe  and  James 
Osborne  had  come  on  their  flight  from  Bulgaria.  The  Prince  listened 
attentively,  and,  disguised  as  a  Bulgarian  peasant,  he  went  in  search  of 
it.  The  Bulgarians  were  everywhere  helpful,  and,  to  his  delight,  he 
found  it  unfortified.  And,  though  the  roadway  had  been  broken  in 
upon  by  mountain  torrents,  with  a  very  little  engineering  he  saw  that 
it  could  be  made  passable  for  the  light  field-cannon,  and  even  for 
baggage-trains.  He  accordingly  returned  and  reported  his  success  to 
General  Gourko,  who,  leaving  a  division  to  advance  on  Shipka  Pass 
from  the  north,  under  Prince  Mirsky,  hastened  across  the  mountains  by 
the  Hainkoi  Pass,  to  the  attack  of  Shipka  from  the  rear.  One  division 
of  the  Red  Cross  was  now  domiciled  at  the  convent  near  Gabrova, 
where  Sallie  and  Alice  had  been  entertained  on  their  flight  from  Eski 
Zagra. 

The  Damascus  roses  were  blossoming  in  the  greatest  profusion  in 
the  cloister  garden,  but  the  nuns  had  other  work  now  than  the  prepara- 
tion of  attar. 

James  Osborne  galloped  into  the  courtyard  on  the  15th  of  July, 
and  reported  that  Gourko  had  advanced  by  the  Hainkoi.  "  He  will  be 
across  the  Balkans  to-morrow.  Captain  Miiller  is  in  the  advance,"  he 
said  to  Sallie.  "  Gourko  has  given  him  an  important  position.  He 
has  sent  you  this  note,  for  he  could  not  come  to  say  farewell.  I  am 
off  to  join  them.  And  as  I  am  free  to  ride  where  I  will,  you  may 
expect  me  in  a  few  clays,  with  news  of  the  victory." 

He  was  gone,  and  Sallie,  half-dazed,  read  the  note,  — 
"  LiEBCHEN,  —  I  am  off  over  the  pass  which  you  know  so  well. 
The  fact  that  you  have  crossed  through  it  will  make  it  very  dear  to  me. 
I  go  with  high  hopes  and  good  omens.  One  of  our  men  —  a  Don 
Cossack  —  gave  me  a  scrap  of  '  bursting  weed  '  this  morning,  and  I 
have  fastened  it  in  my  helmet,  so,  of  course,  we  shall  burst  through. 

*'  Farewell, 

"  Thy  Friedricii." 


2  28  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

SalHe  waited  in  deep  anxiety,  but  one  morning  James  Osborne 
came  with  the  promised  news.  The  daring  raid  was  a  brilliant  success. 
The  Turks  had  not  thought  of  this  deep,  wild  gorge,  and  had  left  it 
absolutely  unguarded.  So  faithful  were  the  Bulgarians  that  not  a  man, 
woman,  or  child  betrayed  the  coming  of  the  Russians.  And  though 
three  battalions  of  Turkish  soldiers  passed  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  defile  that  night,  they  did  not  suspect  that  eleven  thousand  Russians 
were  camping,  without  fires,  in  that  tortuous  ravine. 

The  next  morning  the  army  poured  into  the  plain  below,  and 
re-enforced  by  the  Bulgarian  legion,  which  Trajan  Evanova  and  men  who 
like  him  had  "  Batak  !  "  for  their  watchword  had  been  gathering  at 
Kezanlik,  were  enthusiastically  greeted  and  entertained  by  the  Bul- 
garians of  this  town.  The  next  day  the  attack  was  made  upon  the 
rear  of  Shipka,  a  complete  surprise  to  the  Turks,  who  had  been 
fighting  all  the  preceding  day  with  Prince  Alirsky's  division,  and  who 
now  surrendered,  after  a  sharp  combat.  Abdul  Kerim  was  a  broken 
man,  soon  to  be  degraded  from  his  post  as  commander.  Shipka  Pass 
was  won  and  refortified,  —  its  guns  pointing  to  the  south.  It  was  a 
brilliant  achievement,  —  a  marvel  of  strategy  and  heroic  valor.  En- 
couraged by  the  success  of  his  dashing  raid.  General  Gourko  descended 
from  the  mountains,  and  scoured  the  country  to  the  south,  ignoring 
the  fact  that  the  main  Russian  army  was  still  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Balkans,  where  they  were  destined  to  lie  before  Plevna  for  many  weary 
months,  while  Suleiman  Pasha,  with  his  fort}'  thousand  reserves,  — 
redifs  and  spahis,  the  flower  of  the  Turkish  army,  —  as  well  as  the 
ferocious  Bashi-Bazouks,  —  were  waiting  for  work  to  do.  Gourko 
marched  on  the  29th  of  July,  for  forty  miles,  and  fought  the  Turks  at 
the  railroad  station  of  Jeni  Zagra,  taking  it,  and  destroying  an  immense 
mass  of  stores.  The  next  day  he  attempted  to  return  to  Eski  Zagra,  not 
knowing  that  Suleiman  Pasha's  men  had  fallen  upon  the  town  and 
were  wreaking  on  it  a  terrible  revenge  for  its  friendl)-  reception  of  the 
Russians.     Not    till    Gourko    had    come    in  sight  of   the  city  was  he 


SHIFKA    PASS.  229 

warned  of  what  was  going  on.  Even  then  he  wished  to  pass  on  to  the 
help  of  the  Bulgarian  legion,  who  had  come  out  so  nobly  to  his  aid, 
and  who  were  beset  in  the  city.  But  he  saw  at  a  glance  that  this 
would  be  simply  to  throw  away  his  men,  and  he  made  a  hasty  retreat 
back  by  the  Hainkoi  Pass.  As  for  the  poor  Bulgarian  legion,  it  fought 
its  way  back  to  Shipka,  beginning  its  retreat  with  sixteen  hundred 
men,  and  only  between  four  and  five  hundred  reaching  the  fortifications. 
Shipka  Pass  was  gained,  but  at  what  a  price  !  The  wounded  men 
brought  over  the  terrible  Hainkoi  Pass,  in  jolting  carts,  died  by  the 
wagon-load,  before  they  could  be  transferred  to  the  hospital.  Gourko 
had  lost  three  thousand  men,  exclusive  of  the  Bulgarians.  Captain 
Miiller  brought  up  the  rear,  as  he  had  before  led  the  advance.  The 
sun  poured  down  its  blazing  rays,  as  they  traversed  the  long  plain 
before  striking  into  the  shadowy  gorge.  He  thought  of  the  cool 
ferns  ;  and  the  drip,  drip  of  the  little  brook  seemed  to  be  sounding  in 
his  ears.  His  eyes  felt  baked  in  their  sockets,  and  his  brain  swam 
with  sleeplessness.  Should  they  never  reach  the  shadows?  He  lifted 
his  helmet  to  allow  the  passage  of  the  air,  and  the  crisp,  curling  leaves 
of  the  dried  bursting  weed  crumbled  and  fell  in  powder.  The  dust  was 
rising  on  the  plain  in  the  rear.  Horsemen  were  galloping  toward 
them.  Were  they  Bulgarians,  or  Bashi-Bazouks  ?  There  was  a  little 
puff  of  smoke  along  the  line,  and  he  reeled  in  his  saddle,  clutched  at 
his  horse's  mane  and  fell.  He  was  the  last  man  in  the  column,  and  the 
others  did  not  hear  or  did  not  heed.  Even  his  horse  did  not  stop 
and  stand  over  him  with  the  proverbial  faithfulness  universally 
ascribed  to  that  intelligent  animal.  It  trotted  carelessly  on,  after  its 
comrades.  He  could  hear  their  hoof-beats  growing  fainter,  fainter,  and 
then  the  earth  and  all  therein  seemed  to  fall  away  from  under  him, — 
dying  was  easier  than  he  had  thought !  He  tried  to  say,  "  O  God  !  lor 
Christ's  sake  pardon  my  offences."  But  he  was  conscious  that  he  only 
thought  the  prayer,  that  he  had  lost  the  power  of  speech  ;  another 
instant  and  thought  had  o^one  too. 


2^0  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

PLEVNA,    AND    THE    PASSAGE    OF   THE    BALKANS. 

SALLIE  was  very  busy  at  Gabrova,  for  the  convent  was  filled  now 
with  Gourko's  wounded.  She  had  wondered,  shudderingly,  if  she 
might  not  see  Friedrich  Miiller's  face  looking  up  to  her  from  one  of 
the  stretchers  which  the  men  brought  in,  and  had  thanked  God  that  all 
were  strangers.  He  had  not  come  back  with  Gourko,  she  knew,  but 
she  believed  him  to  be  at  Shipka,  until  James  Osborne  came  back  from 
the  fort  one  day,  and  inadvertently  inquired  for  him.  He  knew  by  her 
sudden  pallor  that  Captain  Miiller  was  among  the  lost  three  thousand. 

"  He  did  not  come  back  with  his  division.  He  is  not  among  the 
wounded.  He  is  not  at  Shipka  ?  Then  he  must  be  dead  !  "  She 
spoke  very  steadily.  But  James  Osborne  was  not  deceived  by  her 
self-possession.  "  Perhaps  he  has  been  taken  prisoner,"  he  suggested. 
She  smiled  incredulously.  ''The  Turks  take  no  prisoners,"  she  said 
calmly,  and  then  she  turned  to  the  poor  Cossack  with  the  gangrened 
hand,  and  by  long  and  patient  argument  persuaded  him  to  its 
amputation. 

The  hospital  at  Gabrova  had  thinned.  Some  patients  had  recovered, 
a  few  had  died,  more  were  able  to  be  sent  to  Bucharest.  The  cots  lay 
white  and  vacant,  and  now  news  came  of  terrible  fighting  at  Plevna. 

Baron  Krudener  had  committed  the  blunder  of  lettino-  Osman 
Pasha  and  his  arm)-  occupy  this  fine  strategical  point,  and  now,  though 
nearl)-  the  entire  Russian  force  was  pitted  against  the  city,  they  found 
it  impossible  to  dislodge  him.  There  was  incessant  w^ork  upon  parallels 
and  intrenchments  creeping  nearer  and  nearer  the  city.  There  were 
terrific  bombardments.    There  were  Turkish  sallies,  and  redoubts  taken 


PLEVNA,   AND    THE   PASSAGE    OF   THE  BALKANS.  233 

by  the  bayonet.  But  the  summer  dragged  on  to  its  close,  and  Osman 
was  still  unsubdued.  The  Czar  watched  the  charges  with  his  field- 
glass,  and  inspected  the  lines.  The  most  skilful  generals  discussed 
the  situation  in  their  councils  of  war.  It  would  never  do  to  march  on 
to  the  south  and  leave  Osman  behind  them.  Plevna  must  be  taken 
before  the  main  army  could  cross  the  Balkans.  And  Gourko  and 
Skobeleff  were  dashing  around  Plevna,  cutting  off  Osmxan's  commu- 
nication with  the  south,  and  trusting  to  the  co-operation  of  the  great 
siege-general  —  Starvation  —  to  help  reduce  the  city.  But  the  city 
was  evidently  well  provisioned,  and  it  held  out  as  pluckily  as  Paris 
had  done  in  the  Franco-Prussian  War,  hoping  for  re-enforcements, 
and  for  the  coming  of  the  Field  Marshal  Winter,  to  blockade  the 
Balkan  roads  and  drive  the  Russians  back.  A  second  campaign,  the 
Czar  knew,  would  bankrupt  his  treasury.  The  fighting  must  be 
finished  this  winter,  and  the  weary  siege  continued.  There  was  good 
news  from  Asia,  where  Mukhtar  Pasha,  who  had  fought  in  Herzegovina, 
was  defending  Erzeroum,  and,  it  was  thought,  must  soon  surrender. 
But  frightful  storms  were  swirling  down  on  the  Balkans,  and  might 
render  them  impassable,  and  the  Russians  pushed  forward  the  siege 
with  fierce  determination.  Every  day  added  to  the  Russian  wounded 
in  all  the  Red  Cross  hospitals,  to  which  they  were  forwarded  by  the 
surgeons  at  the  front.  There  was  a  battle  on  August  30,  resulting  in 
a  second  defeat ;  and  a  third  unsuccessful  attack  in  the  presence  of 
the  Czar,  on  September  11.  Finally,  on  the  night  of  December  10, 
Osman  Pasha,  his  supplies  exhausted,  and  his  outer  defences  captured, 
made  a  desperate  sortie.  The  batde  lasted  from  daybreak  until  noon. 
Much  of  the  time  hand  to  hand —  a  bayonet  contest  over  the  guns  of 
the  Russians.  But  the  Turks  were  driven  back,  and,  in  the  afternoon, 
Osman  surrendered,  and  was  brought,  wounded  and  a  prisoner,  before 
the  Czar.  Plevna  had  fallen.  The  Turkish  prisoners  of  war  were  sent 
to  Roumania  and  to  Russia,  and  the  Russian  army  was  delirious  with 
joy.     All   but   the   dead,  who    lay  unburied    in    the   trenches,   and   the 


234 


THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 


wounded,  who  waited  for  attention,  and  could  not  be  transferred  tast 
enough  to  the  hospitals.  But  if  the  condition  of  the  Russian  wounded 
was  distressing,  it  was  not  to  be  compared  with  the  horrible  state  of 
things  in  the  Turkish  hospitals  in  Plevna.  When  the  Turks  made  their 
sortie,  all  the  hospital  attendants  followed  them,  and  the  sick  and 
wounded  w-ere  left  for  three  days  without  care  or  service.  When  the 
Russians    finally   assumed   this  dut)-,  over  a  thousand   had  died   from 


FORGOTTEN. 


neglect,  and  were  lying  beside  the  living,  many  of  whom  were  too  far 
gone  to  be  helped  by  the  tardy  aid.  There  was  work  enough  for  the 
Red  Cross  at  Gabrova  now.  /\nd.  though  Sallie's  heart  was  almost 
breakine  with  her  own  trouble,  she  let  her  tears  fall  in  secret,  and 
labored  steadily  on.  James  Osborne  w^orked  with  the  sui-geons  at  the 
front,  in  distributing  food  to  the  famishing  prisoners.  One  starving 
crone  was  so  crazed  by  her  sufferings  that  she  cursed  him,  even  while 
she  snatched  at  the  provisions.  He  labored,  too,  in  the  over-crowded 
hospital-tents,  w^here  the  wounded  received  their  first  temporar)-  treat- 


PLEVNA,    AND    THE  PASSAGE   OF   THE   BALKANS. 


ment,  and  in  front  of  which  they  lay,  in  long  rows,  waiting  for  attention, 
with  that  pathetic  look  of  uncomplaining  patience  in  their  eyes  which 
has  been  so  admirably  depicted  in  the  great  picture  of  this  scene,  by 
the  Russian  artist  Verestchagin.  One  day  he  appeared,  with  a  detach- 
ment of  wounded,  at  the  hospital  where  Sallie  was  working.  He  was 
shocked  by  her  changed  appearance,  — 
her  sunken  eyes  and  thin,  trembling  hands. 
"  You  will  kill  yourself!  "  he  cried.  "  You 
are  over-working  cruelly." 

"  I  suppose  I  do  not  sleep  enough," 
she  replied.  "  But  how  can  one  sleep 
when  there  is  so  much  to  be  done  ?  I 
am  working  in  the  fever-ward." 

"  Yes,  and  you  will  take  it  yourself, 
and  we  shall  lose  a  valuable  nurse.  You 
require  an  immediate  change.  I  am  going 
to  cross  the  Balkans  with  Skobeleff.  We 
can  take  a  very  few  nurses,  with  two  am- 
bulances. Will  you  come  with  us  ?  There  will  be  work  enough  to 
do  when  we  reach  the  other  side,  —  perhaps  before." 

"  Yes,  let  me  go,"  Sallie  replied.  "  Friedrich  is  across  the 
Balkans." 

James  Osborne  looked  up  quickly.  Had  she  any  hope  ?  She 
spoke  too  steadily  for  that. 

"  My  poor  child  !  "  he  said,  "  you  have  suffered  cruelly,  but  have 
faith.  All  of  this  death  means  the  resurrection  of  the  land,  and  you 
have  given  and  done  for  that  end  all  that  woman  can." 

"  If  I  could  have  your  faith,"  Sallie  said,  "  that  such  evil  means 
could  ever  work  out  a  good  end." 

"  '  Bate  not  one  jot  of  faith  and  hope,'"  said  James  Osborne  cheerily. 
"  '  It  is  always  the  darkest  just  before  day.'  And  Alice  is  over  the 
Balkans    somewhere.      You    know    Lady    Strangford    went    out    from 


TURKISH    CRONE. 


236  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

England  and  organized  a  society  like  ours,  for  die  care  of  die  Turkish 
Avounded,  called  the  Red  Crescent.  Lady  Saunters  and  Alice  are 
working  in  it ;  and  if  we  may  judge  of  other  Turkish  hospitals  by 
those  of  Plevna,  they  have  more  to  do  than  we." 

Heavy  storms  delayed  for  a  time  the  advance  ;  but  on  Christmas 
Day,  General  Gourko,  with  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men,  set  out 
for  a  second  crossing  of  the  Balkans,  via  Sofia  and  Trajan's  Pass, 
while  General  Skobeleff  led  his  men  to  a  second  storming  of  Shipka, 
Pass,  which  had  been  retaken  by  Suleiman  Pasha.  Both  movements 
were  successful,  though  performed  in  the  face  of  terrific  storms.  The 
men  wore  great-coats  with  pointed  hoods  pulled  over  their  heads,  and 
icicles  hung  from  their  mustaches,  giving  them  the  appearance  of  so 
many  Santa  Clauses. 

A  band  of  medical  students  were  given  their  choice  of  going 
behind  or  marching  on  foot,  and  unanimously  chose  to  take  their 
chances  with  the  infantry,  and  were  on  hand  and  did  noble  service  at 
the  next  battle. 

Sallie  made  the  crossing  with  two  Sisters  of  Charity,  perched  on  the 
top  of  a  wagon  loaded  with  knitted  socks,  waistbands,  and  jerseys, 
which  she  helped  distribute  to  the  frost-bitten  men.  Sentries  were 
frozen  to  death,  and  hundreds  of  men  on  the  hospital  list  with  frost- 
bitten hands  and  feet. 

There  was  hard  fighting  at  Shipka  Pass  again,  and  many  wounded  ; 
and  it  was  long  before  Sallie  reached  Kezanlik,  now  occupied  by  Prince 
Mirsky,  but  only  the  wreck  of  the  beautiful  town  through  which  she 
had  passed  on  leaving  the  countr)-. 

How  could  James  Osborne  maintain  such  an  unwavering  and  cheer- 
ful faith  through  it  all !  Her  hand  stole  to  her  pocket  Testament. 
She  would  read  a  little  from  that  wonderful  chapter  on  faith. 
"Women  received  their  dead  raised  to  life  again,"  were  the  first  words 
that  greeted  her.  And  she  smiled  bitterly,  for  the  verse  seemed  to 
mock  at  her.      "  Oh,  yes  !   it  were  easy  to  have   faith   on   such   terms. 


PLEVNA,    AND    THE   PASSAGE   OF    THE   BALKANS. 


--)  T  7 

-o/ 


But  of  how  many  of  the  poor  women  about  her  could  this  be  said  ?  " 
She  read  on,  "  And  others  were  tortured."  Here  at  last  was  something 
for  her.  "  Not  accepting  deliverance,  that  they  might  obtain  a  better 
resurrection."  That  was  what  James  Osborne  had  meant  —  the  resur- 
rection  of  the   nation.      Over    one   of  the   shattered   houses  the  Red 


RELIEVING    THE    GUARD    AT   SHIPKA. 

Crescent  was  flying.  Some  one  stood  in  the  doorless  aperture. — 
some  one  who  was  not  a  Turk,  though  he  wore  a  scarlet  fez,  and  a 
crescent  of  the  same  color  on  his  arm.  Nor  was  he  a  Russian,  though 
the  rest  of  his  dress  was  that  of  a  European.  From  a  distance  the 
figure  seemed  familiar,  and  as  he  turned  she  recognized  the  face  of 
Algernon  Saunters.  He  came  forward  and  greeted  her  with  grave 
politeness.      "  My  mother  is  within,"  he  said,  "  and   your  friend  Alice 


2^8  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IN  RUSSIA    AXD    TURKEY. 

Newton.     Come  in  and  rest.     You  are  ill.     You  are  only  the  shadow 
of  your  former  self!  " 

"That  is  just  what  I  was  thinking  of  you,"  Sallie  replied  with  a 
faint  smile. 

Lady  Saunters  and  Alice  greeted  Sallie  warmly.  And  they  sat 
down  together  in  a  room  which  had  been  a  stable,  and  was  now  used 
as  the  hospital  kitchen,  and  talked  over  the  experiences  of  the 
campaign,  and  the  outlook  for  the  future. 

"  The  war  is  virtually  ended,"  said  Algernon.  "  Now  that  the 
Russians  have  passed  the  Balkans,  Suleiman  Pasha  and  his  army  are 
fleeing  for  Constantinople,  with  Gourko  in  hot  pursuit.  Peace  negotia- 
tions will  soon  begin." 

"  And  what  has  this  poor  country  gained  ?  "  Sallie  asked 
mournfully. 

"The  country  is  impoverished,"  Alice  replied.  "O  Sallie!  you 
should  see  the  deserted  homes  which  I  have  visited,  and  hear  the 
poor  women,  who  have  crept  back  to  them,  wailing  by  their  hearth- 
stones, '  Oh,  my  sweet  home  !  my  sweet  home !  Oh,  my  husband  ! 
my  dear  husband  !  Oh,  my  children  !  my  pretty  children  !  '  There  are 
some  who  have  lost  all.  The  English  and  Americans  have  collected 
the  orphans  from  Batak  and  other  desolated  villages,  and  are  caring 
for  them.  Mr.  Schuyler  obtained  a  list  of  eighty-seven  children,  who 
had  been  sold,  and  has  had  them  given  up.  I  saw  many  of  them  at 
Philippopolis.  And  little  Ghiorghy  and  Anghel,  the  younger  brothers 
of  poor  Marika  and  Katarinka,  were  among  them." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Sallie,  "  as  James  Osborne  hopes,  a  new  national 
life  will  be  born  from  all  this  struggle.  But  it  seems  hardly  possible 
that  its  advantages  will  be  such  as  to  repay  for  all  this  horror  of 
bloodshed  and  suffering." 

"The  future  will  tell,"  said  Algernon  sadly.  "  I  confess  that  I  am 
not  over-sanguine.  But  of  one  thing  I  am  certain  :  if  the  civilized 
world   at  large  could  only  realize  what  this  war  has  meant,  w^hat  an\- 


PLEVNA,   AND    THE  PASSAGE   OF   THE  BALKANS.  239 

war  means,  this  would  be  the  last  sanctioned  by  Christian  countries, 
and  arbitration  would  be  instantly  agreed  upon." 

They  were  silent  for  a  few  moments.  Lady  Saunters  and  Alice  had 
hurried  away  to  their  patients,  and  at  length  Algernon  asked,  "  Do  you 
know  what  brought  me  here  ?  I  resigned  my  position  in  the  India 
service,  on  account  of  a  disordered  liver.  To  have  told  the  truth, 
the  resignation  should  have  read,  a  disordered  conscience.  Your  talk 
at  Athens  rankled  within  me  like  slow  poison.  And  when  this  war 
was  declared,  I  came  home  to  see  if  I  could  not  get  a  diplomatic  posi- 
tion. I  think  I  shall  have  one  when  affairs  are  settled,  and  I'll  do 
my  best  to  heal  these  wounds.  But,  meantime,  I  could  find  nothing 
better  to  do  than  to  come  out  here  with  mother.  They  call  the 
English  Turkish  sympathizers,  and,  I  confess,  we  do  sympathize  with 
their  sufferings.  You  must  see  our  hospital.  We  have  one  patient 
who  ouQ^ht  to  be  transferred  to  the  Red  Cross,  —  a  voune  Russian,  — 
who  has  lain  for  months  between  life  and  death." 

"  A  Russian  in  a  Turkish  hospital !      How  was  that  possible  ?  " 

"  Only  through  guile  on  my  part.  The  story  may  interest  you. 
You  remember  Norcross  ?  " 

"  The  thief  and  renegade  ?     Yes  !  " 

"  Hush  !  the  poor  fellow  is  dead.  He  was  wounded  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  w^ar,  on  the  Danube.  He  was  brought  on  his  ironclad 
to  Burgas  ;  and,  hearing  there  that  there  were  English  physicians 
here,  he  refused  to  submit  himself  to  Turkish  surgeons,  and  insisted 
on  being  transported  to  our  hospital.  We  did  our  best  to  save  him. 
But  his  wound  had  been  too  long  neglected.  And  he  died  on  the 
night  that  the  Bashi-Bazouks  retook  this  place,  and  slaughtered  the 
Bulgarian  legion  in  the  streets.  It  was  a  horrible  night.  And  he 
heard  the  cries  and  shouts  as  he  lay  dying.  Our  attendants  deserted 
us.  But  the  hospital  was  not  disturbed.  Two  days  later  a  Bulgarian 
swineherd  told  me  that  he  had  found  a  wounded  Russian  officer.  — 
one   of    Gourko's   men,   lost  on    his  retreat   to   the  Balkans,    and    had 


240  THREE    VASSAR   GIRLS  IX  RUSSIA    AND    TURKEY. 

hidden  him  in  his  hut.  I  went  out  with  the  man  after  nigfhtfall  with- a 
stretcher,  and  brought  him  in,  having-  first  dressed  him  as  a  Turk. 
He  was  blond,  and  unmistakably  European  in  appearance.  But  we 
laid  him  on  Norcross's  pallet,  and  when  the  attendants  came  back  they, 
and  all  Turks  who  visited  the  hospital,  believed  that  he  was  the  White 
Pasha.  He  is  recovering  rapidl}-  now.  Come  and  see  him,  for  he 
belongs  to  you." 

Sallie  turned  quickly.      "  What  did  you  say  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  he  is  a  Russian,  and,  as  such,  should  be  transferred 
to  your  hospital." 

Sallie  did  not  hear,  but  followed  quickly.  On  a  pallet  was  stretched 
the  gaunt  form  of  the  man  she  had  mourned  as  dead.  He  was  sleeping, 
and  she  sunk  noiselessly  upon  her  knees  by  his  side.  Algernon  looked 
at  her  in  astonishment.  "  You  were  right.  He  belongs  to  me," 
she  said  simply.  "In  spite  of  my  little  faith,  I  have  received  my 
dead  raised  to  life  again." 

Algernon  Saunters  knew  instantly  that  his  hope  was  vain. 

Meanwhile,  James  Osborne  had  taken  the  camp-fever,  and  lay  dying. 
He  heard  the  booming  of  the  cannon,  as  they  celebrated  the  declaration 
of  peace,  and  asked,  "  Are  they  fighting  again  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Melicent,  "  the  End  has  come,  and  Bulgaria  is  free  !  " 

A  sunny  smile  swept  over  his  face.  "Then,  how  can  you  ask,  my 
wife,  whether  it  has  all  paid  ?  " 

But  Melicent,  a  widow  when  scarcely  a  bride;  and  Sallie,  who 
tasted  the  same  cup  of  sorrow,  though  it  was  mercifully  removed ; 
and  Alice,  who  saw  her  lessons  of  love,  forgiveness  of  injuries,  and 
meekness,  rudely  set  aside,  and  revenge  paraded  as  the  Christian 
mode  of  solving  difficulties  ;  and  thousands  of  bereaved  women  and 
children  ask,  —  Is  there  no  better  way  ? 


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